The Effect of Breathing Exercises on Respiratory Condition After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

 Respiratory complications are prevalent in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Breathing exercises are efficient and cost-effective techniques to eliminate this problem.

 This study investigated the effect of simultaneous breathing exercises on patients' respiratory condition after CABG surgery.

 In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 52 CABG candidates were allocated to two intervention and control groups. The control group received routine breathing exercises (incentive spirometry and vibration). Besides routine exercises, the intervention group performed exercises such as pursed-lip breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, incentive spirometry, and effective coughing for three days after the surgery. The incidence of atelectasis, oxygen saturation, lung auscultation, and the patients' satisfaction with the respiratory function was measured and recorded before and after the surgery in both groups. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS v. 22 at a significance level of < 0.05.

 The patients' mean age was 60.9 ± 9.5 years, and 26 (51%) were male. There was no significant difference between the patients in underlying parameters. None of the patients in the two groups had atelectasis before the surgery. However, four days after the surgery, 40% of the patients in the control group and 23% of those in the intervention group suffered from atelectasis complications. The visual analog scale (VAS) score increased after surgery in the intervention group, although the difference was insignificant. Moreover, the arterial oxygen saturation percentage and breathing rate increased in the intervention group. No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding crackles at different hours after surgery, although they were relatively less in the intervention group.

 Breathing exercises, especially combined breathing exercises, improve respiratory function after open heart surgery.