Infant’s Sigh Breathing Matters—The Role of the Hering-Breuer Deflation Reflex in Bronchial Decongestion

Background: The prolonged slow expiratory (PSE) technique can induce sigh breaths related to the Hering-Breuer reflex in children.PSE is a specific chest physiotherapy technique often used in children to help with the clearance of secretions, reduce pulmonary obstruction and decrease ventilatory effort. Purpose: The main objective of this review was to synthesize and clarify the existing knowledge of the physiological mechanism behind the Hering-Breuer reflex and its utility in the PSE technique. The secondary objective was to provide an overview of PSE which is probably the main mechanical feature for mucus clearance in infants and to identify gaps and any further research required. Method: A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE and Ovid EMBASE, from 1968 to January 2024, using search terms relating to “Interaction of Hering-Breuer reflex and chest physiotherapy therapy, sigh breath in infants and prolonged slow expiration technique” to create an overview of the advances and gaps in current knowledge of PSE. Result: The data obtained following treatment with PSE maneuvers in infants with histories of recurrent wheezing shows that the presence of sighs could be the main active principle of treatment. Conclusion: Changes in volume induced by PSE technique and, effects from crying may stimulate the Hering-Breuer deflation reflex and sighs in turn improving alveolar ventilation as well as lung volume in infants.

叹气式呼吸法在初产妇第一产程中的应用

目的探讨叹气式呼吸对初产妇的产程时间、疼痛程度和分娩方式的影响。方法选择足月妊娠头先露,无妊娠合并症和并发症的初产妇200例,随机分为观察组和对照组,每组100例。观察组在第一产程中采用叹气式呼吸法,对照组产妇不予干预,采取自由呼吸法。观察两组产妇产程时间、疼痛程度和分娩方式的差异。结果观察组与对照组比较第一产程时间缩短、疼痛减轻,阴道分娩例数(96例)多于对照组(88例),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论叹气式呼吸能缩短第一产程时间,减轻分娩疼痛,提高自然分娩率。