Respiratory Failure & Its Physiotherapy Management

Respiratory failure is a major cause of illness and death and is the most common reason for admission to the intensive care unit. Survivors have exercise limitation and decreased physical quality of life that can persist for many years after hospital discharge. During the ICU stay, patients can present with dyspnea, reduced lung volumes, secretion retention and atrophy of skeletal muscles. Physiotherapy plays an important role in the recovery process and improvement of exercise tolerance. Early physical therapy intervention determines the length of hospital stay and quality of life after hospital discharge.