Physiotherapy following cardiac surgery: Program comparison

¹ RīgaStradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
² StradiņšClinical University Hospital, Latvia

Abstract

The objective is to examine and compare the usability of two physiotherapy programmes, analyzing respiratory function in patients before and after cardiac surgery in hospital during seven postoperative days (POD).

Quantitative randomized prospective study of 157 patients before and after the valve replacement surgery, coronary artery bypass graft and combined surgeries, who moved independently. Participants were randomized into two groups (1 and 2) with different physiotherapy programmes. The routine physiotherapy of breath-enhancing techniques, micro-circulation improvement were used for the first group, for the second group - modified physiotherapy – the improvement of inspiration muscles, mm. quadriceps. gluteus max strength. Anthropometric measurements were defined for both groups on the day before surgery and during spirography - dynamic indicators - forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the 2^nd second (FEV1), Tiffeneau index (FEV1 / VC (%)), peak expiratory flow (PEF), operation parameters.

By comparing the postoperative respiratory parameters between the two groups and using independent samples t test, it was found out that the difference in FVC between groups is 1.71 [95% CI: −8.25 to 4.8] and it is not statistically significant (t (155) = −0.52; p = 0.60). Based on the Leuven test results FVC the distribution variance is not statistically notably different for group 1 and group 2 (F = 0.27, p=0.60).

Using routine and modified physiotherapy and comparing postoperative dynamic respiratory performance of the two groups, there was no statistically significant difference, proving that the two models are equally effective.