Does removal of deep breathing exercises from a physiotherapy program including pre-operative education and early mobilisation after cardiac surgery alter patient outcomes?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish whether removal of breathing exercises from a regimen including early mobilisation changes the incidence of post-operative pulmonary complications for patients after cardiac surgery. Two hundred and thirty patients undergoing open heart surgery at Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, were enrolled in this randomised controlled trial. All patients received physiotherapy treatment pre-operatively and post-operatively for three days. Patients were mobilised as soon as possible after surgery. Breathing group (control) patients performed a set routine of deep breathing exercises at each physiotherapy visit while those in the intervention group did not perform t..