Arterial Blood Gases Response to Incentive Spirometry Versus Continuous Positive Airway Pressure breathing After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Abstract

Background: Postoperative respiratory complications such as hypoxemia and atelectasis remain important causes of mortality after CABG. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the changes in arterial blood gases after the use of incentive spirometry (IS) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during intensive care unit period, after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) also to provide an idea about which of them is more effective method following coronary artery bypass surgery in intensive care unit. Methods: 30 volunteer patients' (22 males and 8 females) who had coronary artery bypass surgery participated in this study and they were randomly selected from surgical department at intensive care unit (ICU) in National Heart Institute, Egypt, their ages ranged from 45 to 55 years. Participants were randomly assigned between two equal groups. Group 1 received incentive spirometry breathing training in addition to routine chest physiotherapy following CABG, while Group 2 received CPAP in addition to routine chest physiotherapy program following CABG. Results: The results obtained in this study indicated that, there was statistical significant increase PaO 2 and decrease in PaCO 2 after two hours of using incentive spirometry, which indicated long term effect of incentive spirometry. While there was no statistical significant improvement in arterial blood gases after two hours of using CPAP which indicated short term effect of CPAP (p<0.05). Conclusion: Incentive spirometry is superior to continuous positive airway pressure breathing to long term improve arterial blood gases following coronary artery bypass graft surgery.