Use of lung expansion techniques on drained and non-drained pleural effusion: survey with 232 physiotherapists

Abstract Introduction: Techniques for lung expansion seem to benefit patients with drained and undrained pleural effusion, but there is a lack of evidence to indicate which technique is best in each situation. Currently, the therapeutic choices of respiratory physiotherapists serving this population are not known. Objective: To know which lung expansion techniques are chosen by chest physiotherapists who assist patients with drained and non-drained pleural effusion. Method: Through the announcement of the Federal Council, 232 physiotherapists who work in hospitals in Brazil were questioned about which techniques they apply to patients with drained and non-drained effusion. Results: Initially, 512 were questioned but 232 (45.3%) answered. The physiotherapists associate more than one technique of lung expansion in both types of patients, besides walking. Deep breathing is the most used technique in patients with drained (92%) and non-drained (77%) pleural effusion. Positive pressure exercises in the airways are chosen by 60% of the physiotherapists to treat patients with drained pleural effusion and by 34% to treat patients with non-drained pleural effusion. Yet the incentive spirometry are used with 66% of patients with drained pleural effusion and 42% with non-drained ones. Conclusion: Deep breathing is the most applied lung expansion technique in the treatment of patients with drained and non-drained pleural effusion by chest physiotherapists. In addition, there is association between greatest degree and time of professional performance and the chosen techniques.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Santos,Elinaldo da Conceição dos, Silva,Juliana de Souza da, Assis Filho,Marcus Titus Trindade de, Vidal,Marcela Brito, Lunardi,Adriana Claudia
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná 2020
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-51502020000100205
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