Rehabilitation Needs of Patients with Covid-19 in Acute Phase

Marina Garofano¹*, Matteo Maria Ascoli¹, Roberta Palumbo² and Mariaconsiglia Calabrese³

Received: April 23, 2020;   Published: April 29, 2020

DOI: 10.32474/RRHOAJ.2020.05.000204

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Abstract

Background: COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 19) is a viral infection caused by SARS-Cov-2, that primarily affects the lower respiratory tract and causes several symptoms described as flu-like. Treatment of the disease generally consists of managing clinical symptoms and in case of more severe complications, patients require to be transfer to Intensive Care Units (ICU). Since this type of infection is extremely recent, there are only few studies on the rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19.

Materials and Methods: Papers were identified via a search of PubMed, Scopus and Pedro databases, in order to analyze the role of the physiotherapist in the intensive care units, in the management of non-invasive ventilation (NIV), not forgetting the risk of infection for healthcare professionals.

Conclusion: The analysis of literature carried out shows the importance of the physiotherapists in the management of critically ill patients in the ICU. Key goal of physiotherapy in ICU is the quality of long-term recovery, rather than short-term survival, and physiotherapists play a valuable role in achieving this goal. Finally, in the case of airway infections, the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should not be overlooked, especially because physiotherapeutic procedures generating aerosols are at high risk of transmission for infections.

Keywords: Physiotherapy; Physiotherapist; Covid-19; Coronavirus; Pulmonary rehabilitation; Chest physiotherapy; Intensive care unit

Abbreviation: ACBT: Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques; BIPAP: Biphasic Positive Airway Pressure; CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; ECMO: Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation; ICU: Intensive Care Unit; ILD: Interstitial lung diseases; MERS: Middle East respiratory syndrome; NIV: Non Invasive Ventilation; PPE: Personal Protective Equipment; PEP: Positive Expiratory Pressure; RICU: Respiratory Intensive Care Units; SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; MHI: Manual hyperinflation; PICS: Post-Intensive Care Syndrome

Abstract| Introduction| Literature Analysis| Conclusion| Acknowledgements| Conflict of Interest| References|