Anterior Chest Physiotherapy and Breathing Exercises for Cardiac Surgery Patients; A Cross Sectional Survey

JRCRS. 2019; 7(2):69-73. DOI: 10.5455/JRCRS. 2019070208

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery disease introduced as the most prevalent cause of mortality all over the world. There is limited published data on which type of chest physiotherapy and breathing exercises are recommended to cardiac patients after surgery.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of chest physiotherapy and breathing exercise for the post cardiac patients.
To determine the type of chest physiotherapy and breathing exercise for the post cardiac patients.

Methodology: A Cross-sectional survey was conducted on 150 physiotherapists from March to August 2018 selected via convenience sampling technique. Data was collected from Tabba cardiac Hospital and NICVD Karachi, using self-structured questionnaire for prevalence and type of exercise. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.21.

Results: According to the results, the prevalence of chest physiotherapy and breathing exercise for the cardiac patients was 80%. The most frequent type of exercise was deep breathing 92%, diaphragmatic breathing 90%, coughing80%, relaxation techniques 72% and chest wall Vibration 70%. The less used treatments were positive expiratory pressure (PEP) device breathing (21.3%) and inspiratory resistance positive expiratory pressure (IR-PEP) (12.5%). Recommendations to continue breathing exercises after discharge varied from not at all up to 3 months after surgery.

Conclusion: Physiotherapy and Breathing exercise are mostly used in post-operative cardiac procedures. Every Hour breathing activities, diaphragmatic breathing and pressed together lip breathing exercise the highly recommended regime practiced. Guideline for the duration after discharge varies.

Keywords: Chest Physical Therapy (CPT), breathing exercise, cardiac patient, ACBTs.