Expansibilidade torácica no recém-nascido em uso da faixa de estabilização abdominal: um estudo exploratório

Abstract

Introduction: The biomechanical and neural control immaturity of the newborn's (NB) respiratory system put them in a vulnerable position. The horizontal position of the costal arches reduces the zone of apposition, and the low mineralized ribs imply a more compliant and deformable rib cage. In this study, we present the abdominal stabilization band (ASB) as a way of modulating respiratory behavior by stabilizing the rib cage. Objective: To evaluate the rib cage expansion behavior (in millivolt) of newborns submitted to the use of ASB. Methods: Eleven NBs admitted to a Maternity School, with gestational age between 37 and 41 weeks, used an elastic band adjusted between the xiphoid process and the anterosuperior iliac spine, with abdominal restraint 0.5 cm smaller than the size measured without the band, maintained for 15 minutes. Rib cage expansion was assessed using a Piezoelectric Respiration Transducer for three minutes and at three different times: before using the ASB, immediately after the ASB, and ten minutes after the last measurement. Data normality was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and the comparative analysis was performed using the Student's t-test, considering a value of p<0.05 as statistically significant. Results: The behavior of both the rib cage expansion and respiratory rate were not different before and immediately after the ASB (p = 0.13; p = 0,62). However, the rib cage expansion was significantly higher increase ten minutes after the ASB compared with before ASB (p = 0.02). Conclusion: The use of the stabilization band increases the rib cage expansion ten minutes after its use and, possibly, the tidal volume, which may infer a greater ventilatory efficiency.