[Effect of chest physiotherapy in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation: a prospective randomized controlled...

To investigate the effect of chest physiotherapy (CPT) on patients undergoing mechanical ventilation (MV).

A prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. Sixty-eight adult patients undergoing invasive MV over 48 hours admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College from December 2014 to October 2016 were enrolled, and they were divided into CPT group (n = 37) and control group (n = 31) by random number table. The patients in control group received routine physical therapy; while those in the CPT group received comprehensive CPT including manual lung inflation, vibration expectoration and early functional exercise etc. on the basis of the treatment in control group. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score and oxygenation index (PaO₂/FiO₂) before and after the treatment in both two groups were observed as well as the respiratory function and vital signs before and after CPT. The laboratory indicators after treatment, incidence of complications, duration of MV and the length of ICU stay in the two groups were recorded.

The incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in the CPT group was significantly lower than that of control group (5.4% vs. 25.8%, P < 0.05), the patients in control group also had atelectasis, deep vein thrombosis and other complications, while no such complications were found in the CPT group. The duration of MV (hours: 77.4±41.0 vs. 133.9±117.2) and the length of ICU stay (hours: 134.4±71.4 vs. 207.4±177.7) in CPT group were significantly shorter than those of the control group (both P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in APACHE II score and PaO₂/FiO₂ before treatment between the two groups. After treatment for 2 days, the APACHE II score in both groups was gradually decreased, and that in CPT group was more significantly, it was significantly lower than that of control group after treatment for 4 days (8.6±3.9 vs. 12.5±5.3, P < 0.05). The PaO₂/FiO₂ in the two groups was gradually increased after treatment. PaO₂/FiO₂ in CPT group was significantly increased at 3 days after treatment as compared with that before treatment [mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 278.1±79.0 vs. 224.2±98.9], while PaO₂/FiO₂ in the control group did not appear significantly increased until after 4-day treatment (mmHg: 302.3±93.1 vs. 232.3±116.7, both P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in vital signs and respiratory function parameters including tidal volume (VT), respiratory rate (RR), peak airway pressure (Ppeak) and mean airway pressure (Pmean) before and after treatment in CPT group excepting pulse oxygen saturation (SpO₂) was significantly higher than that before treatment (0.985±0.016 vs. 0.978±0.018, P ₂ 0.05), indicating that CPT treatment did not cause fluctuations in respiratory function and vital signs. Blood lactate in CPT group was significantly lower than that of control group (mmol/L: 1.10±0.79 vs. 1.32±1.09, P < 0.05), indicating that CPT treatment, especially early functional exercise, could improve the oxygen supply and limb circulation.

CPT treatment has some effect on prevention of VAP and other complications in patients undergoing MV, which could shorten the duration of MV and the length of ICU stay, and promote the recovery of patients.