Ann Saudi Med. 2022 Jan-Feb;42(1):8-16. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2022.8. Epub 2022 Feb 3.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary complications in patients who undergo open heart surgery are serious life-threatening conditions. Few studies have investigated the potentially beneficial effects of preoperative physiotherapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
OBJECTIVES: Assess the effects of preoperative chest physiotherapy on oxygenation and lung function in patients undergoing open heart surgery.
DESIGN: Randomized, controlled.
SETTING: University hospital.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with planned open heart surgery were randomly allocated into an intervention group of patients who underwent a preoperative home chest physiotherapy program for one week in addition to the traditional postoperative program and a control group who underwent only the traditional postoperative program. Lung function was assessed daily from the day before surgery until the seventh postoperative day.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in measures of respiratory function and oxygen saturation. Length of postoperative hospital stay was a secondary outcome.
SAMPLE SIZE: 100 patients (46 in intervention group, 54 in control group).
RESULTS: Postoperative improvements in lung function and oxygen saturation in the intervention group were statistically significant compared with the control group. The intervention group also had a statistically significant shorter hospital stay (P<.01).
CONCLUSION: Preoperative chest physiotherapy is effective in improving respiratory function following open heart surgery.
LIMITATIONS: Relatively small number of patients.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.
REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04665024).
PMID:35112592 | DOI:10.5144/0256-4947.2022.8
