MANEJO FISIOTERAPÊUTICO DO PACIENTE HOSPITALIZADO COM A COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19, the current public health emergency, can cause generalized respiratory, physical, psychological and systemic dysfunctions. The severity of the disease varies from asymptomatic to severe infection with respiratory failure, and may progress to death. Due to the still limited and evolving knowledge of COVID-19, there are few recommendations on early rehabilitation in critically ill patients. Objective: To describe the physiotherapeutic approach in the functional recovery of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Methodology: Integrative literature review with the purpose of synthesizing the evidence produced on the physical therapy management of critically ill patients with COVID-19. The search was carried out using the descriptors: COVID-19, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, Physiotherapy, rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation, respiratory rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, hospital, Intensive Care Unit, inserted in the VHL, PubMED databases , ScienceDirect, SciELO, PEDro and manual search for bibliographic references in the selected studies, published in English and Portuguese from December 2019 to October 2020. Results: 34800 articles were found and after the selection steps, 16 studies were included and analyzed. The recommendations of the selected studies were categorized into therapeutic proposals, namely: mobilization, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and secretion removal techniques, lung expansion and breathing patterns. Conclusion: Early mobilization in patients with COVID-19 is recommended, as long as safety criteria are considered. NMES can be used as an adjuvant therapeutic resource and therapeutic approaches that increase respiratory work in patients in acute state are not indicated. Physiotherapists must be aware of the importance of preventing the functional decline of these patients, as well as the specific recommendations for their management.