OBJECTIVES: The aim was to assess the effect of routine post-operative care on 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th post-operative day on peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in patient undergone abdominal surgery (controlled group). To assess the effect of deep breathing exercises by using diaphragmatic breathing exercise during post-operative care on 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th post-operative day on PEFR in patient undergone abdominal surgery (study group). To compare PEFR in control and study group. METHODS: This study investigated the effects of pre-operative breathing exercises training on the vital capacity (VC) and PEFR of upper abdominal surgery patients. The patient were divided into 2 groups, control and experimental. Patient in the experimental group was given three supervised session of diaphragmatic deep breathing exercise daily. Spirometric and peak flow meter values of VC and PEFR were obtained 1 day before and 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th day after surgery. RESULTS: The data obtained were analyzed in terms of descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics using software SPSS-16.1 version. The analysis showed a significant difference in the pre- and post-training VC and PEFR for experimental group compared to control group. CONCLUSION: Diaphragmatic deep breathing exercise improves the pulmonary functions after the abdominal surgery.

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