Effects of Physical Therapy on Cardiac Surgery

Background: Although respiratory physiotherapy has been used in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, evidence lacks concerning its effectiveness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of three physiotherapeutic protocols used to recover respiratory volumes in the postoperative period. Methods: Thirty five patients were randomly allocated into three groups. Exercise group (E) was oriented to progressive mobilization. Incentive Spirometry group (IS) performed deep breathings using VoldyneTM, while Breath-Stacking group (BS) performed successive inspiratory efforts using a facial mask adapted to an unidirectional valve. Both BS and IS also performed progressive mobilization. Forced spirometry was carried out in the pre-operative period and from the first to the fifth postoperative day. Statistical analysis used student t-test and ANOVA, and the differences were considered significant when p\<0.05.