Pre and postoperative nurse-guided incentive spirometry versus physiotherapist-guided pre and postoperative breathing exercises in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: An evaluation of postoperative complications and length of hospital stay

Atelectasis is the most occurring postoperative complication after cardiac surgeries. Postoperative respiratory exercises and incentive spirometry led to decrease in postoperative complications, especially atelectasis and hospital stay. The objectives of the study were to evaluate postoperative complications and length of hospital stay of patients who received pre and postoperative nurse-guided incentive spirometry against those of patients who received pre and postoperative breathing exercises by the physiotherapist in patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Data of patients who received 2 days preoperative and 2 days postoperative nurse-guided incentive spirometry with a spirometer (PPN cohort, n = 102) or received 2 days preoperative and 2 days postoperative breathing exercises by physiotherapist without spirometer (PPP cohort, n = 105), or 2 days postoperative physiotherapist-guided breathing exercises only without spirometer (PPB cohort, n = 114) were collected and analyzed. The acute or chronic collapse of part or entire lung was defined as atelectasis. The length of stay in the hospital was from the day of admission to discharge. Patients of the PPN cohort had fewer numbers of incidences of atelectasis, dyspnea, and sweating >1 day after operations compared to those of the PPB and the PPP cohorts (P < .05 for all). The partial pressure of oxygen and oxygen saturation of arterial blood ≥6 hours after operations reported higher, the duration of ventilation was shorter, and numbers of re-intubation processes reported fewer for patients of the PPN cohort than those of the PPB and the PPP cohorts (P < .05 for all). The hospital length of the stay of patients in the PPN cohort was fewer than those of the PPB and the PPP (P < .0001 for both) cohorts. Pre and postoperative nurse-guided incentive spirometry with a spirometer following cardiac surgeries would have better postoperative pulmonary outcomes and fewer hospital stays than those of postoperative-only or pre and postoperative physiotherapist-guided breathing exercises (level of evidence: IV; technical efficacy stage: 5).