Clinical profile of newborns undergoing physical therapy in a neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

Introduction: In neonatal therapy units, physical therapy is directed toward integral baby care. Objective: To describe the profile of newborns (NBs) hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Methods: Retrospective documentary study with data collection from medical records from July 2011 to July 2013. The sample consisted of NBs who performed motor and respiratory therapy. Data were grouped into five categories according to birth weight (≤ 1000g, 1001-1500g, 1501-2000g, 2001- 2500g, ≥ 2501g). Results: total of 1,884 newborns were admitted to the NICU within the stipulated period, 168 (13.9%) underwent physical therapy. Of the 168 NBs who underwent physical therapy, 137 were born in the hospital (81.5%) and 31 were transferred there (18.5%); 17 of these babies died during the neonatal hospital stay (10.1%). All newborns of the extremely low birth weight group (≤ 1000g)required mechanical ventilation, 72.7% non-invasive ventilation and 16.6% high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. The occurrence of pneumothorax in the extremely low birth weight group was 13.8% and 16% in the group with birth weight 1001-1500g. Conclusion: Infants with low birth weight (<2500g) constituted the profile of NBs who underwent physical therapy, which was directly related to higher incidence of death and pneumothorax, as well as increased use of mechanical and non-invasive ventilation.