The usefulness of respiratory physiotherapy for the prevention of pulmonary complications after cardiac surgery remains unproved .
OBJECTIVE To assess whether respiratory physiotherapy prevents pulmonary complications after cardiac surgery .
Are maximal inspiratory breathing exercises or incentive spirometry better than early mobilization after cardiopulmonary bypass?
Forty-nine adults who had undergone cardiopulmonary bypass surgery were r and omly assigned to one of three exercise programs to determine if either maximal inspiratory breathing exercises or incentive spirometry offered a therapeutic advantage over early mobilization alone . After extubation , the patients started their assigned exercise programs . A physical examination and pulmonary function tests were performed preoperatively , at the start of the exercise program , and 24 and 48 hours after the start of the program . The results showed a significant decrease ( approximately 50 % ) in lung volumes but no airflow obstruction in patients who had coronary artery bypass graft . In those patients who had valve replacement , lung volumes fell , and in addition , mild airflow obstruction occurred . A majority of patients had postoperative pulmonary complications . There were no significant differences among the exercise programs in improving lung volumes and airflow or in preventing postoperative complications . We conclude that maximal inspiratory breathing exercises or incentive spirometry , when used in addition to early mobilization , offers no therapeutic advantage over early mobilization alone after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery
The usefulness of respiratory physiotherapy for the prevention of pulmonary complications after cardiac surgery remains unproved .
OBJECTIVE To assess whether respiratory physiotherapy prevents pulmonary complications after cardiac surgery .