The effect of preoperative chest physiotherapy on oxygenation and lung function in cardiac surgery patients: a randomized controlled study

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).