Clinical Usefulness of Preoperative Physiotherapy in Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Significant alterations in pulmonary functions have been seen after cardiac surgery, even after considerable and recent advancements in the field of cardiopulmonary surgeries. Postoperative physiotherapy has been proven effective in reducing postsurgical pulmonary complications, but the importance of preoperative physiotherapy is still not well known and is an area of negligence. Seventy-one patients who underwent on pump cardiac surgery were studied prospectively. Patients were enrolled into two groups: group A included 60 patients who performed preoperative exercises and group B included 11 patients who failed to perform preoperative respiratory exercises. Baseline assessment including pulmonary function test was taken before and after the 3rd, 5th, and 7th day of operation. Patients in both groups perform physiotherapy exercises after surgery. The results of the study showed maximum reduction in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) on the postoperative day (POD) 3 in both groups. On POD 5 and 7 respiratory functions reduced significantly more in group B in comparison to group A. Chest expansion was seen to be significantly more reduced in group B compared to group A on POD 5 and 7. Duration of ICU stay was significantly less in patients included in group A (3.64 days) in comparison to patients in group B (4.18 days). It was concluded that preoperative exercises are important and helpful in regaining the patient's normal respiratory functions, chest expansion, and decreasing the need to stay longer in ICU.