Effect of Preoperative Chest Physiotherapy on 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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Open Heart Surgery Patients
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: preoperative chest physiotherapy; Procedure: postoperative chest physiotherapy

Detailed Description

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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Hungary
  • Pecs
    • Pécs, Pecs, Hungary, H-7621
      • Heart Institute,Medical School, University of Pécs

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

-

Exclusion Criteria:

• Under 18 years old; (2) a history of musculoskeletal disorders; (3) patients who had suffered strokes; (4) and psychological disorders.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Group 1; G1 included patients undergoing planned surgery who performed chest physiotherapy at home in two weeks period before the surgical operation pre and postoperative chest physiotherapy was performed in G1. The chest physiotherapy included the following steps; Snipping through the nose several times, then breathe out through the mouth; Taking a deep breath through the nose, hold the air in, push it down in the stomach, than back to the chest, and in the end breath out through the mouth; Put both hands on the shoulders. Lift the elbows to the sides and take a deep breath through the nose, then lower them, breathe out through the mouth. This procedure was done for the other side as well.; Put both hands on your hips. Lift your right arm to the side, turn backwards with it and take a deep breath through the nose, then turn back, put your hand back to the hip and breathe out through the mouth.This procedure was done for the other side as well	Procedure: preoperative chest physiotherapy; The patients were approached to partake in the investigation after they got full clarifications about the point of study. They were allocated into two groups and reassurance was achieved about the absence of any side effects.Furthermore, the examination was approved by the ethical committee. Effects of preoperative chest physiotherapy were compared between two groups, by measuring the lung functions, oxygen saturation, pulmonary complications and length of hospital staying. Lung functions were completed by utilizing spirometry parameters, oxygen saturation was measured by pulse oximeter and pulmonary complications were diagnosed by specialist doctors.; Procedure: postoperative chest physiotherapy; Postoperative chest physiotherapy made in both two groups was similar to the preoperative chest physiotherapy but this was achieved by physiotherapists and made once a day for 10-25 minutes depending on the "lectures" of postoperative days.
Active Comparator: Group 2; G2 included patients who patients undergoing planned surgery but did not perform preoperative chest physiotherapy at home.only postoperative chest physiotherapy made in G2. The patient was seen on the first day after surgery in the intensive care unit and was asked if he had performed breathing exercises at home before surgery and then re-evaluation of both groups with respect to respiratory functions and oxygen saturation values from the first day until the seventh after surgery. Also, a daily chest physical therapy program was introduced in accordance with the hospital's policy until the patient's discharge. Postoperative chest physiotherapy made in both two groups was similar to the preoperative chest physiotherapy mentioned above but this was achieved by physiotherapists and made once a day for 10-25 minutes depending on the "lectures" of postoperative days. The exercises were repeated 10 times and performed 3-4 times per day.	Procedure: postoperative chest physiotherapy; Postoperative chest physiotherapy made in both two groups was similar to the preoperative chest physiotherapy but this was achieved by physiotherapists and made once a day for 10-25 minutes depending on the "lectures" of postoperative days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in oxygen saturation	Sao2	in a day before (zero day) surgery as well as the first seven days of postoperative period.
Change in pulmonary functions	FVC and FEV1	At the first seven days of postoperative period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
pulmonary complications	pneumonia, atelectasis, phrenic nerve stimulation, ventilator	At the first seven days of postoperative period.
length of hospital staying	How many days did the patient stay in the hospital?	The minimum stay for the patient is 7 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Pecs
• Investigators: Study Director: VERZAR 7- ZSOFIA, Doctor, University of Pecs

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Shahood H, Pakai A, Rudolf K, Bory E, Szilagyi N, Sandor A, Zsofia V. The effect of preoperative chest physiotherapy on oxygenation and lung function in cardiac surgery patients: a randomized controlled study. Ann Saudi Med. 2022 Jan-Feb;42(1):8-16. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2022.8. Epub 2022 Feb 3.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 9, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 10, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): December 11, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 11, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 10, 2020
• Last Verified: December 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Open heart surgery, chest physiotherapy, spirometry
• Other Study ID Numbers: 4114.316-474/kk15/2011

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No