Evidence derived from small trials suggests that preoperative physical therapy reduces postoperative pulmonary complications ( atelectasis and pneumonia ) and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery .
There is a lack of evidence that preoperative physical therapy reduces postoperative pneumothorax , prolonged mechanical ventilation or all-cause deaths
BACKGROUND After cardiac surgery , physical therapy is a routine procedure delivered with the aim of preventing postoperative pulmonary complications .
OBJECTIVES To determine if preoperative physical therapy with an exercise component can prevent postoperative pulmonary complications in cardiac surgery patients , and to evaluate which type of patient benefits and which type of physical therapy is most effective .
Pre-operative short-term pulmonary rehabilitation for patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
The role of pre-operative short-term pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery has been assessed for the first time prospect ively . Forty-five patients posted for coronary artery bypass graft surgery  were r and omised to receive either short-term pulmonary rehabilitation ( group I ) or no such programme ( group II ) . Patients of both the groups were evenly matched with respect to age , sex , body surface area , duration and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary artery disease . Normal individuals who evenly matched with the study group were assessed for normal respiratory function parameters . Pre-operative and post-operative peak expiratory flow rate , inspiratory capacity , post-operative ventilation time , post-operative pulmonary complication and hospital stay were determined in both the groups . Peak expiratory flow rate ( 220.0 + /- 12.9 and 324.3 + /- 84.3 in group I , 218.0 + /- 16.4 and 260.5 + /- 35.2 in group II ) and inspiratory capacity ( 844.0 + /- 147.4 and 1100.0 + /- 158.1 in group I , 830.0 + /- 117.4 and 1090 + /- 137 in group II ) were significantly lower before and after surgery respectively in both groups compared to normal values . Even though both groups showed a significant rise in post-operative peak expiratory flow rate and inspiratory capacity after surgery , the post-operative peak expiratory flow rate and inspiratory capacity in group I was significantly higher than in group II . In group I , the post-operative ventilation time ( 24.5 + /- 6.00 hours ) , post-operative complications ( n = 4 ) and hospital stay ( 12.4 + /- 3.6 days ) were significantly lower than in group II ( 35.2 + /- 22.3 hours , n = 11 , 18.8 + /- 6.6 days respectively ) . These data suggest that short-term pulmonary rehabilitation is feasible and effective in improving pulmonary functions before and after surgery and in reducing surgical morbidity and cost of medical care significantly
Evidence derived from small trials suggests that preoperative physical therapy reduces postoperative pulmonary complications ( atelectasis and pneumonia ) and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery .
There is a lack of evidence that preoperative physical therapy reduces postoperative pneumothorax , prolonged mechanical ventilation or all-cause deaths
BACKGROUND After cardiac surgery , physical therapy is a routine procedure delivered with the aim of preventing postoperative pulmonary complications .
OBJECTIVES To determine if preoperative physical therapy with an exercise component can prevent postoperative pulmonary complications in cardiac surgery patients , and to evaluate which type of patient benefits and which type of physical therapy is most effective .