Salina hipertônica na bronquiolite viral aguda: solução eficaz ou estratégia controversa?: uma revisão integrativa

Introduction: Acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB) is an inflammation of the lower airways, usually caused by viruses, affecting children under 2 years and frequently leading to hospitalization. Hypertonic saline has been widely studied as a therapeutic alternative, but its benefits remain controversial in the literature. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of hypertonic saline in managing AVB, synthesizing available evidence and identifying gaps and trends in the studies. Methods: An integrative review was conducted from October to November 2024, using LILACS, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE (via PubMed). Articles published in the past five years in English, Portuguese, or Spanish were included, using the descriptors: “hypertonic saline” AND “acute bronchiolitis” AND “children” OR “infants.” After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were selected for analysis. Results and Discussion: The review revealed conflicting results regarding the use of hypertonic saline in AVB. Some studies reported benefits, such as reduced hospital stay, hospitalization rates, and clinical improvement. However, others did not find significant correlations between its use and the clinical outcomes, highlighting methodological limitations and bias in part of the literature. Conclusion: Although hypertonic saline shows potential in AVB management, the inconsistency of findings underscores the need for more rigorous studies to validate its efficacy and guide evidence-based clinical practices.