The Effect of Preoperative Chest Physiotherapy on Oxygenation and Lung Functions Among Open Heart Surgery Patients
The Effect of Preoperative Chest Physiotherapy on Oxygenation and Lung Functions Among Open Heart Surgery Patients
Postoperative respiratory complications in patients who had chest-opening heart surgery are considered one of the serious factors threatening their life. However, these potential complications could be minimized using proper preoperative chest physiotherapy. This study was designed to assess the potential effects of using preoperative chest physiotherapy on oxygenation and lung functions among open heart surgery patients during postoperative period.
The research was lasted four months in outpatient clinic, cardiothoracic surgical department and intensive care unit at University of Pécs, Clinical Centre, Heart Institute, Hungary . A convenient sample of 100 patients were divided into two groups: group 1 and 2. Group 1 (G1) included patients undergoing planned surgery who performed chest physiotherapy at home in two weeks period before the surgical operation, and group 2 (G2) included patients who patients undergoing planned surgery but did not perform preoperative chest physiotherapy at home. Preoperative and postoperative chest physiotherapy was performed in G1, and only postoperative one made in G2. Potential effects of preoperative chest physiotherapy were studied in both groups with respect to oxygen saturation, pulmonary complications and length of hospital staying. O2 saturation,O2 supplementation, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were all measured in a day before (zero day) surgery as well as the first seven days of postoperative period.
Results: Measures of oxygen level and lung functions were significantly (P<0.05) changed in studied groups. The mean values of O2 saturation and supplementation measured in almost seven days of postoperative period were significantly (p<0.05) higher among G1 compared to the values of G2. The same trend was also correct for the mean values of FVC and FEV1.
Conclusions: The results concluded that, the performance of preoperative chest physiotherapy before open heart surgery is recommended, as it might result in the decrease of complications of heart surgery, improvement of respiratory functions and length of staying at hospital.
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