Strategy for respiratory exercise pattern associated with upper limb movements in COPD patients

INTRODUCTION: Upper limb exercises are frequently used in respiratory physiotherapy, with UL elevation and controlled inspiratory timing. However, the use of expiration during upper limb elevation appears to be a strategy that could minimize the action of accessory muscles in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this context, little is known about the synchrony of upper limb (UL) movements associated with breathing. The aim of this study was to investigate the respiratory pattern of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients during different UL exercises associated with respiratory exercises. METHODS: Fifteen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients participated in this study. Respiratory pattern analysis by inductance plethysmography was performed during four types of upper limb exercises, two shoulder flexion-extension (one associated with inspiratory time during the concentric phase and the other associated with expiratory time) and two shoulder abduction-adduction (same timing as above). Statistical analysis was performed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and ANOVA with Tukey tests (p< 0.05). RESULTS: The thoracoabdominal coordination measurements increased in the two exercises using both inspiration during shoulder flexion (PhRIB: 172%; PhREB: 131%; PhRTB: 142% and PhAng: 238%) as well as in shoulder horizontal abduction (PhRIB: 145%; PhREB: 109%; PhRTB: 130% and PhAng: 229%), differing from the exercises with expiration at the time of shoulder flexion and horizontal abduction. CONCLUSION: The exercises performed with inverted respiratory time produced less asynchrony and can be used as important strategies during physical exercise programs in these patients

Acute Application of Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure Influences the Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System

INTRODUCTION: Noninvasive positive pressure has been used to treat several diseases. However, the physiological response of the cardiac autonomic system during bilevel positive airway pressure (Bilevel) remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the heart rate variability (HRV) during Bilevel in young healthy subjects. METHODS: Twenty men underwent 10-minute R-R interval recordings during sham ventilation (SV), Bilevel of 8-15 cmH2O and Bilevel of 13-20 cmH2O. The HRV was analyzed by means of the parallel R-R interval (mean R-Ri), the standard deviation of all R-Ri (SDNN), the root mean square of the squares of the differences between successive R-Ri (rMSSD), the number of successive R-Ri pairs that differ by more than 50 milliseconds (NN50), the percentage of successive R-Ri that differ by more than 50 milliseconds (pNN50), the low frequency (LF), the high frequency (HF) and SD1 and SD2. Additionally, physiological variables, including blood pressure, breathing frequency and end tidal CO2, were collected. Repeated-measures ANOVA and Pearson correlation were used to assess the differences between the three studied conditions and the relationships between the delta of Bilevel at 13-20 cmH2O and sham ventilation of the HRV indexes and the physiological variables, respectively. RESULTS: The R-Ri mean, rMSSD, NN50, pNN50 and SD1 were reduced during Bilevel of 13-20 cmH2O as compared to SV. An R-Ri mean reduction was also observed in Bilevel of 13-20 cmH2O compared to 8-15 cmH2O. Both the R-Ri mean and HF were reduced during Bilevel of 8-15 cmH2O as compared to SV, while the LF increased during application of Bilevel of 8-15 cmH2O as compared to SV. The delta (between Bilevel at 13-20 cmH2O and sham ventilation) of ETCO2 correlated positively with LF, HF, the LF/HF ratio, SDNN, rMSSD and SD1. Acute application of Bilevel was able to alter the cardiac autonomic nervous system, resulting in a reduction in parasympathetic activity and an increase in sympathetic activity and higher level of positive pressure can cause a greater influence on the cardiovascular and respiratory system

Efeitos da ventilação mecânica não-invasiva na variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca e no padrão ventilatório de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) has been commonly applied in several clinical and postoperative conditions, especially after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery and it can cause breathing pattern (BP) alterations and mechanical effects on cardiovascular system, with cardiac autonomic adjustments. However, it is not well established in the literature how these alterations occur in patients submitted to the CABG and if they can be related to the application of different positive airway pressure levels. In this context, we considered the development of two studies that could contribute with new information about these topics. The first study is entitled Acute application of bilevel positive airway pressure influence cardiac autonomic nervous system and its objective was to evaluate the changes in heart rate variability (HRV) during bilevel positive airway pressure (Bilevel) application in healthy young men. Twenty men underwent a 10-min register of R-R intervals (R-Ri) during sham ventilation, Bilevel 8-15cmH2O and Bilevel 13-20 cmH2O. HRV was analyzed in time and frequency-domain and with non-linear statistical measures. Physiological variables (blood pressure, breathing rate, end tidal carbon dioxide- ETCO2) were also collected. R-Ri mean, rMSSD, NN50, pNN50 and SD1 reduced during 13-20 cmH2O compared to sham ventilation, with reduction of the R-Ri mean compared to 8-15 cmH2O. R-Ri mean and high frequency band (HF) reduced and low frequency band (LF) increased during 8-15 cmH2O compared to sham ventilation. Delta of ETCO2 correlated positively with LF, HF, LF/HF, SDNN, rMSSD and SD1. In conclusion, acute application of Bilevel was able to alter cardiac autonomic nervous system, with parasympathetic activity reduction and sympathetic increase and higher level of positive airway pressure can cause a greater influence on the cardiovascular and respiratory system. The second study is entitled The effects of different levels of positive airway pressure on respiratory pattern and heart rate variability in patients submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting surgery and its objective was to access the effects of different levels of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in BP and HRV in CABG postoperative (PO), as well as the impact of CABG in these variables. Eighteen patients underwent CABG was evaluated during spontaneous breathing (SB) and four different CPAP levels of CPAP, in a random order: (a) CPAP = sham (3 cmH2O), (b) 5 CPAP = cmH2O, (c) 8 CPAP= cmH2O, (d) 12 CPAP = cmH2O in PO. HRV was analysed in time and frequency domain and by non-linear methods (Poincaré plot e Detrended Fluctuation Analysis) and BP was analysed by inductive respiratory plethysmograph. There were significant alterations of HRV and BP in the PO of CRM, compared to pre-operative and alterations of DFA&#945;1, DFA&#945;2 e SD2 and respiratory variables during NIPPV, with higher influence observed during application of the two higher levels applied. Moreover, there was relationship between DFA&#945;1 and inspiratory time of delta 12 cmH2O and SB, and 8 cmH2O and SB. In conclusion, acute CPAP application was able to alter the control of cardiac autonomic nervous system and BP of patients submitted to CABG and higher levels promoted better performance of pulmonary and cardiac autonomic function.Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisA ventilação não-invasiva por pressão positiva (VNIPP) tem sido comumente utilizada em diversas condições clínicas e pós-operatórias, principalmente na cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (CRM) e pode causar alterações do padrão ventilatório (PV) e efeitos mecânicos sobre o sistema cardiovascular, com ajustes autonômicos cardíacos. Entretanto, ainda não é claro se estas alterações ocorrem em pacientes submetidos à CRM e se podem estar relacionadas a diferentes níveis pressóricos aplicados. Neste contexto, propusemos o desenvolvimento de dois estudos que poderiam contribuir com novas informações. O primeiro estudo, intitulado Aplicação aguda de pressão positiva por dois níveis pressóricos nas vias aéreas influencia o sistema nervoso autonômico cardíaco teve por objetivo avaliar as mudanças na variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC) durante aplicação de pressão positiva por dois níveis pressóricos (Bilevel) em indivíduos jovens saudáveis. Vinte homens foram submetidos ao registro de 10 minutos dos intervalos R-R (iR-R) durante aplicação de ventilação sham, Bilevel 8- 15cmH2O e Bilevel 13-20 cmH2O. A VFC foi analisada no domínio do tempo e da freqüência e por métodos não-lineares. Variáveis fisiológicas (pressão arterial, frequência respiratória e fração de dióxido de carbono no final da expiração- ETCO2) também foram coletadas. Houve redução da média dos iR-R, e dos índices rMSSD, NN50, pNN50 e SD1 durante aplicação dos níveis 13-20 cmH2O de Bilevel comparado ao modo sham, ainda com redução da média dos iR-R quando comparados aos níveis 8-15cmH2O. Houve diminuição da média dos iR-R e da banda de alta freqüência (AF), com aumento da banda de baixa freqüência (BF) durante a aplicação de 8-15 cmH2O comparada à ventilação sham. O delta de ETCO2 correlacionou-se positivamente com BF, AF, BF/AF, SDNN, rMSSD e SD1. Em conclusão, a aplicação aguda de Bilevel foi capaz de alterar o sistema nervoso autonômico cardíaco, com redução da atividade parassimpática e aumento da atividade simpática e níveis mais elevados de pressão positiva podem causar maior influência nos sistemas cardiovascular e respiratório. O segundo estudo, intitulado Efeitos de diferentes níveis de pressão positiva nas vias aéreas sobre o padrão ventilatório e a variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio objetivou avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de diferentes níveis de pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas (CPAP) sobre o padrão ventilatório (PV) e a VFC no pós-operatório (PO) de CRM, bem como o impacto da CRM sobre estas variáveis. Foram avaliados 18 pacientes submetidos à CRM, durante RE (respiração espontânea) e aplicação de quatro níveis de CPAP, de forma randomizada: (a) CPAP = sham (3 cmH2O), (b) CPAP = 5 cmH2O, (c) CPAP= 8 cmH2O, (d) CPAP = 12 cmH2O no PO. A VFC foi analisada no domínio do tempo e da freqüência e por métodos não-lineares (Poincaré plot e Flutuações Depuradas de Tendência) e o PV foi analisado em diferentes variáveis, por meio da pletismografia respiratória por indutância. Houve alteração da VFC e do PV no PO de CRM, comparado ao período pré-operatório, bem como alterações dos índices DFA&#945;1, DFA&#945;2 e SD2, e de variáveis ventilatórias durante aplicação de VNIPP, com maior influência exercida pela aplicação dos dois níveis pressóricos mais elevados. Além disso, houve correlação entre o índice DFA&#945;1 e tempo inspiratório para o delta de 12 cmH2O e RE, e 8 cmH2O e RE. Em conclusão, temos que a aplicação aguda de CPAP foi capaz de alterar o controle do sistema nervoso autonômico cardíaco e o PV de pacientes submetidos à CRM e os níveis mais elevados promoveram melhor desempenho da função pulmonar e autonômica cardíaca. Apoio Financeiro: FAPESP (07/53202-9)