Bronchology, physical and inhalation therapy unit

Bronchology Division

This Division takes care of patients who are treated in our outpatient and inpatient facilities and same-day clinic. Bronchial diagnostics has a long history in medicine and our hospital was the first to introduce flexible bronscopy in Croatia. This method is used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and in deep i.v. sedation in infants and small children, or under local anesthesia in adolescents. This procedure is complemented with taking aspirate samples, BAL samples, brush biopsy and transbronchial biopsy, thus contributing to a faster diagnostics of pulmonary and bronchial diseases. 

Physical Therapy

Respiratory physiotherapy perfomed both at inpatient and outpatient facilities plays an important role in the management of patients at the Children’s Hospital Srebrnjak. It comprises the following methods:

• Physiotherapeutic assessment
  
• Postural drainage with vibration massage and cough-out technique
• Relaxation 
• Breathing exercises

Physiotherapeutic assessment comprises the assessment of posture, pulmonary function, breathing modes, cough and general condition of the patient.

Postural drainage is a method based on the action of gravitation used for eliminating secretion from the airways. For that purpose the part of the lungs which is intended for drainage is to be positioned at the highest level in relation to the main bronchi. Drainage is then facilitated by vibration massage. 

Relaxation is a process of achieving total mental and physical calmness, which is being transferred from the peripheral muscles to the smooth mucles of the bronchi, thus diminishing bouts of impaired breathing. It is performed in a lying, sitting and standing position.

Breathing exercises are important in the prevention and treatment of repiratory diseases. They aim at teaching children how to breathe correctly, thus increasing the lung ventilation while reducing the consumption of energy needed for breathing.

Breathing exercises can be actively performed with children over five years of age, while younger children exercise through play (balloons, cotton balls).

Your can learn more about the methods of respiratory physiotherapy in theory and practice at the Asthma School run by our physiotherapists.