Effect of Kinesiotaping Applications on Diaphragm, Abdomen and Chest Wall in Preterm Infants Undergoing Noninvasive Ventilation

Kinesiotaping (KT) applied to the thorax is believed to enhance breathing by supporting the respiratory muscles. Infants born premature usually have respiratory problems because of depletion of surfactant and respiratory muscle weakness. Therefore, we are going to use KT for premature infants in NICU who are undergoing non-invasive ventilation. Forty-two participants divided into two groups. The first group will be applied KT to chest wall, abdomen and diaphragm, and the other group will not receive any KT application during non-invasive ventilation. KT application will be going on as long as the infant underwent non-invasive ventilation. We are going to measure blood gas parameters (pH, pCO2, pO2, base excess), respiration rate, peak heart rate, percentage of Fio2, FiO2/pO2 rate, PEEP and PIP values before non-invasive ventilation, 2 hours after non-invasive ventilation, within 72 hours and shortly before weaning from non-invasive ventilation.