• Luiz Alberto Forgiarini, Alexandra Torres de Carvalho, Tatiane de Souza Ferreira, Mariane Borba Monteiro, Adriane Dal Bosco, Marisa Pereira Gonçalves, and Alexandre Simões Dias.
• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
• J Bras Pneumol. 2009 May 1;35(5):455-9.

AbstractA series of pulmonary complications can occur after abdominal surgery. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce appropriate treatment early in order to minimize postoperative complications. The objective of the present study was to evaluate patients submitted to abdominal surgery in terms of the effect of physical therapy in the immediate postoperative period. This was a randomized clinical trial, in which one group of patients was submitted to physical therapy in the postoperative recovery room and, subsequently, in the infirmary, whereas another group was submitted to physical therapy in the infirmary exclusively. We conclude that physical therapy performed in the immediate postoperative period minimizes losses in lung function and respiratory muscle strength, as well as shortening recovery room stays.

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