Global approach to a physiotherapy intervention in giant omphalocele

Abstract

To describe the effects of using specific physiotherapeutic resources and kinesiotherapy on cardiorespiratory and spirometric parameters, and on the quality of life of an adolescent diagnosed with Giant Omphalocele (GO), a disease little-known in the literature as regards respiratory and motor intervention. In a 16-year-old patient diagnosed with GO, the physiotherapy was monitored involving the use of Threshold^® and Respiron^®, strengthening and stretching the musculature overall as well as in specific groups to improve the postural alignment. Data for pulmonary function regarding blood oxygenation, breath and heart rate, maximum inhalation and exhalation pressures, six-minute walk tests, and spirometric parameters were the effective quantitative variables considered before and after the five-month treatment period. There was a general improvement in all the quantitative variables for pulmonary function compared to baseline values, as well as an improvement in the quality of life and of the feelings of dyspnea mentioned by the adolescent. The use of specific physiotherapeutic resources to fortify the natural inhalational musculature, to improve ventilation, to reduce dyspnea, and to increase the tolerance to exercise, aside from a postural approach to developing bio-mechanical musculoskeletal equilibrium, can be an alternative to be used as a path of treatment for patients with GO.