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Effectiveness of breathing exercises in preventing pulmonary complications following open heart surgery
Vraciu JK, Vraciu RA
Physical Therapy 1977 Dec;57(12):1367-1371
clinical trial
4/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: No; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: No; Adequate follow-up: No; Intention-to-treat analysis: No; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

The effectiveness of breathing exercises in preventing pulmonary complications was studied in 40 patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Both high- and low-risk patients in the experimental group received one preoperative teaching session and treatment twice a day for the first four days postextubation. Routine postoperative care was given to all 40 patients. Breathing exercises reduced the incidence of pulmonary complications and the necessity for percutaneous endotracheal catheters in the high-risk group. These results justify the use of breathing exercises with the high-risk open-heart surgical patient.

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