Permanence of Lung Disorders after Hospital Discharge of Patients Who Underwent Cardiac Surgery: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Patients are more likely to develop lung disorders after cardiac surgery. Pulmonary dysfunction resulting from cardiac surgery in the hospital phase is well documented. However, there is a scarcity of studies related to the permanence of pulmonary disorders in the period following hospital discharge. The objective of this study was to verify in a database investigation the permanence of pulmonary dysfunctions after hospital discharge of patients who underwent cardiac surgery. A literature review with an integrative approach was carried out in the National Library of Medicine (Pubmed) and Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo) databases from 1978 to 2019. 4523 articles were found and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the sample was composed of 14 articles relevant to the subject and that were available in full. The results demonstrated the presence of atelectasis, pleural effusion, diaphragmatic dysfunction, respiratory symptoms such as cough, phlegm, wheezing, and dyspnea, reduced static and dynamic lung volumes, reduced diffusion capacity and respiratory muscle strength, in the period that ranged from three weeks to one year after cardiac surgery. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms that lead to the permanence of pulmonary dysfunctions after hospital discharge in patients who underwent cardiac surgery.