BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mechanically ventilated patients usually present larger amounts of pulmonary secretions because of impairment in mucociliary function and mucus transport. The manual resuscitator is considered a resource for pulmonary hyperinflation with the aim of preventing mucus retention and pulmonary complications, improving oxygenation and reexpanding collapsed areas. Alternatively, the hyperinflation by mechanical ventilator is a reliable and practical device to promote lung expansion and desobstruction. The objective of this study was to review the literature concerning manual and ventilator hyperinflation treatments for patients in the intensive care units (ICU) setting. CONTENTS: Literature searches were performed using the databases MedLine, CINAHL, SciElo and LILACS with appropriate keywords, including: intensive care units, manual hyperinflation, mechanical ventilator, physiotherapy, physical therapy and ventilator hyperinflation. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are few studies demonstrating the efficacy of ventilator hyperinflation as a physical therapy device, it can be a safety option to promote therapeutic hyperinflation in ICU, compared to manual hyperinflation.
ICU; mechanical ventilation; physical therapy; ventilators