Keywords
Neonates
Respiratory distress syndrome
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Abstract
Objective: To describe the role of respiratory physiotherapy and strategies associated with ventilatory support in the management of neonates with Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), as well as the main clinical outcomes related to these practices. Methods: This is an integrative literature review with a descriptive approach, conducted in the SciELO, PubMed, PEDro, BVS/Bireme, and LILACS databases. Initially, 187 articles were identified, of which 10 studies were included in the final sample after duplicate removal and application of the eligibility criteria. Eligible studies included full-text articles published between 2021 and 2026, in Portuguese and English, with quantitative, qualitative, mixed, observational, or experimental approaches, addressing the role of respiratory physiotherapy in neonates with RDS or neonatal respiratory distressin hospital settings or neonatal intensive care units. Results: The ten analyzed studies suggested that respiratory physiotherapy may contribute to improvements in ventilatory parameters, reduction in respiratory rate, optimization of gas exchange, and decreased duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization. It was also observed that approaches associated with ventilatory support presented more favorable clinical outcomes, especially when applied in an individualized manner. Final considerations: The analyzed studies suggest that respiratory physiotherapy may positively contribute to the clinical stability and respiratory improvement of neonates with RDS. However, the methodological heterogeneity of the included studies demonstrates the need for further research with greater scientific rigor to strengthen the available evidence.
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