The Effect of Breathing Exercise and Incentive Spirometry versus Breathing Exercise and EzPAP® on Flow Rates and Chest Expansion in Post Abdominal Surgery Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Induction of general anesthesia impairs gas exchange in the lungs, persists postoperatively, and may contribute to significant post-operative morbidity and health care cost. Post-operative complications range from 17% to 88%. Various reasons leading to these complications are incisional pain, accumulation of secretion, reduced chest expansion. The purpose of this study was to compare combination of breathing exercise and inspiratory spirometry v/s breathing exercise & EzPAP® & breathing exercise. The total number of subjects included in the study were forty, twenty (20) in each group. The subjects were randomly assigned to each group. Subjects in both the groups were treated for five days post operatively. The outcome measures used in the study were peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), chest expansion, and pulse oximetry. Statistical analysis was done by using Wilcoxon sign ranked test for pre and post values of SpO2, PEFR & chest expansion for data which was not normally distributed. Mann Whitney U test was used to compare data between groups. Peak expiratory flow rates improved in both groups after treatment. Chest expansion improved on fifth post op day in both the groups. Pulse oximetry values improved in both groups, but in experimental group it was significant. Key words: Abdominal Surgery, Anesthesia, Saturation, Incentive spirometry, breathing exercise.

Effect of Buteyko breathing technique on peak expiratory flow rate in patients undergone upper abdominal surgery

“…16 Because of anesthesia respiratory system is depressed which affect cough reflex. 17 There is a reduction in functional residual capacity (FRC), of inspiratory (IRV) and expiratory reserve volumes (ERV) and vital capacity (VC), also causing a reduction in expiratory flow, probably due to the reduced diaphragmatic activity. 18 Physiotherapy has a mainstay in management of post-surgical complications.…”