TÉCNICAS FISIOTERAPÊUTICAS NOS DIFERENTES NÍVEIS DE GRAVIDADE DA BRONQUIOLITE

Acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB) is the main respiratory infection in children under two years, responsible for the highest number of hospital admissions in this age group in the winter period. It presents different levels of severity, with treatment varying according to the severity of each frame, however, there is still no consensus on the performance of physiotherapy. Objective: To identify and relate the physiotherapeutic techniques used in the different levels of AVB severity. Method: A prospective, observational, cross-sectional study conducted in a public hospital of medium complexity in the metropolitan region of the south of the country. Neonatal characteristics of the child and the physiotherapeutic techniques performed were associated with the severity level of respiratory dysfunction. Results: The sample consisted of 31 infants, with a higher prevalence of males (64.5%) and moderate severity of AVB (51.4%), according to the instrument adopted for evaluation (Wood-Downes scale modified by Ferrés). Increased expiratory flow, associated with thoracic compression and decompression maneuvers, were the most used physiotherapeutic techniques (35.5%). There was no statistically significant difference in the association between bronchiolitis conduct and severity, possibly because the sample did not include serious cases. However, the relationship between initial pulmonary auscultation and techniques used (p=0.04) was observed. Conclusion: The choice of the physiotherapeutic techniques adopted was based on the findings of the initial pulmonary auscultation and not only on the characteristics of the disease. Despite consistency in intervention, as advocated in international consensus and recommendations, conventional techniques without scientific evidence were also used.