Abstract
Respiratory training of premature infants was performed to determine whether improved respiratory muscle strength and/or endurance would result. Twenty-two premature infants were randomized into control and training groups for 2 wk, using inspiratory flow-resistive loads for training (75 cm H2O·L-1·s in wk 1 and 90 cm H2O·L-1·s in wk 2). Respiratory endurance was assessed by the time interval required for the development of a 5-torr rise in transcutaneous CO2 tension during the hypoventilation induced by loaded breathing, using a moderately severe resistive load (250 cm H2O·L-1·s at 1 L·min-1). Respiratory strength was assessed by the maximum negative airway pressure generated during occluded breaths, a pressure-time integral, and an effort index. Results revealed that respiratory muscle endurance, which was not initially different between control and trained groups, increased significantly after 2 wk in the trained group by 137% (median value, p < 0.05), whereas it remained unchanged in the control group (-24%). The trained group of infants also showed a significant decrease in baseline breathing frequency between the initial and final measurements taken 2 wk apart when compared with controls (p < 0.05) and a lesser increase in inspiratory time with loading in the final measurement as compared with the initial value (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the control and trained groups in initial or subsequent measures of respiratory muscle strength. Inspiratory flow-resistive load training appears to improve the respiratory endurance of premature infants in whom respiratory muscle fatigue has been described to play a role in the development of respiratory failure.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 613-618 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Pediatric Research |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1992 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health