Arch Surg Chicago
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The prevention of pulmonary complications after upper abdominal surgery in patients with noncompromised pulmonary status.
Controversy exists regarding the routine use of breathing exercises in the prevention of pulmonary complications after upper abdominal surgery. We prospectively randomized 153 patients who had noncompromised pulmonary status; the control group (84 patients) engaged in no breathing exercises, and the respiratory therapy group (69 patients) engaged in preoperative and postoperative breathing exercises supervised by the physical therapist. ⋯ In the present study, preoperative lung function tests had no additional or predictive value. We advise preoperative and postoperative breathing exercises as a prophylactic treatment in all patients scheduled for upper abdominal surgery.