Deep breathing exercises for cardiac surgery patients after discharge
- a randomized controlled trial
PhD, RPT Elisabeth Westerdahl Urell C, Jonsson M, Bryngelsson I, Hedenström H, Emtner M.
Örebro University Hospital, Uppsala University and Örebro University, Sweden. [email protected]
Quick topic overview
Physical therapy instructions for postoperative breathing exercises after cardiac surgery vary in clinical practice.
In this two-center, single-blind RCT the effects of home-based deep breathing exercises performed two months following cardiac surgery was compared to a control group performing no breathing exercises after discharge.
InterventionBreathing exercises: 30 breaths with a PEP-device (10-15 cmH2O)
performed 5 times/day during 2 months.
Control group: No breathing exercises after discharge
Outcome measures
SpO2
Spirometry (VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/VC, IC, FRC, RV, TLC)Subjective experiencesPatient-perceived quality of recovery (QoR-40)Health-related quality of life (SF-36)Respiratory tract infection/pneumoniaAntibiotic treatment
Surgical data Breathing group (n = 159)
Control group (n =154)
CABG / valve / CABG + valve 52 / 77 / 30 54 / 76 / 24Operation time, h 4 1 4 1ECC time, min 112 49 115 52AoO time, min 79 39 80 41Postoperative mechanical ventilation, h 6 4 6 3
ConclusionsTwo months postoperatively, the patients had:
• Significantly reduced lung function FEV1 93 ± 12 % (p <0.001) of preoperative values.• Peripheral oxygen saturation had returned to
preoperative values.• Health-related quality of life was improved compared
to preoperative values (p<0.01).• There were no significant differences between the
groups in any of the measured outcomes.