Effect of Neurophysiological Facilitation [NPF] of Respiration on Ventilation of Mechanically Ventilated Patients: An Experimental Study

Background Mechanical ventilation is a useful modality for patients who are unable to sustain the level of ventilation necessary to maintain gas exchange function. Mechanically ventilated patients are prone to all disorders of immobility, thus the role of physiotherapy includes patients respiratory as well as postural care. NPF of respiration is the use of selective external proprioceptive and tactile stimuli that produce reflexive movement responses in the ventilatory apparatus to assist respiration. Aim and Objective To study the effectiveness of NPF of respiration on ventilation of mechanically ventilated patients. Objective is to assess the difference between pre and post NPF on respiratory rate, tidal volume, minute volume and chest expansion. Method An experimental study was conducted on 10 mechanically ventilated [SIMV/CPAP modes] patients of emergency ward of V. S. General Hospital, ahmedabad, to assess pre and post difference in RR, Vt, Ve and chest expansion, by applying intercostal stretch, abdominal co contraction and anterior stretch posterior basal lift. It was a one time study to see short time effects. Result Statistical analysis showed that there was significant improvement in all outcome measures after application of NPF techniques. RR improved significantly [P=0.0116] after application of anterior stretch posterior basal lift. Tidal volume improved very significantly after application of abdominal co contraction [p= 0.009] and with anterior stretch posterior basal lift [P=0.001]. Minute volume improved very significantly after abdominal co contraction [P= 0.019] and after anterior stretch posterior basal lift [P=0.0001]. Chest expansion increased very significantly after application of all techniques [P