Assessment of the Effects of Manual Chest Compression Technique on Atelectasis in Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of manual chest compression (MCC) in the variables of oxygenation, hemodynamic and respiratory effeteness in infants suffering from respiratory diseases with atelectasis. Methods: Controlled clinical trial, in which 38 infants were evaluated,19 ineach study group (group A: atelectasis and group B: control). Data were measured before, immediately after and 10 minutes after the end of the technique’s application. Results: The average age was of 5.05 months. There was an increase of RR in group A immediately after the application of the technique and signs of respiratory distress with a decrease in the oxygen saturation. Conclusion: There was a reduction in SpO2, an increase of RR and a worsening of clinical signs of respiratory distress. Given this, one may consider that there is a controversy about the benefits, mechanism of action, physiological and therapeutic effects of MCC when applied to infants.