Effect of Preoperative Chest Physiotherapy on Lung Functions Among Open Heart Surgery Patients

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

1. Snipping through the nose several times, then breathe out through the mouth
2. 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
3. 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.
4. 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

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.

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.