Effect of Early Mobilization and Routine Chest Physiotherapy on Ventilatory Functions in Open Heart Surgery Patients

Abstract Background: Open heart surgery induces a sharp post-operative decrease in respiratory function, a decrease which can lead to the development of post-operative pulmonary complications which remain the most significant cause of morbidity following open heart surgery. Aim of Study: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of early mobilization on ventilatory functions in individuals undergoing open heart surgery. Subjects and Methods: Forty patients of both sexes (31 men and 9 women) who underwent open heart surgery were enrolled in that study for ten days. Their ages ranged from 45-65 years. They were randomly assigned into two groups, twenty in each group. Group I (intervention group) received early mobilization and routine chest physiotherapy; and Group II (control group) received only routine chest physiotherapy. The frequency and duration of treatment was two sessions for the first two pre and post-operative day and once per day on the third and up to the tenth post-operative day. All of them underwent evaluation of ventilatory functions with measurement of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), forced expira-tory volume in the first second (FEV1) and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) pre treatment and after ten days post-operatively. Results: There was no significant difference were recorded between the two groups in the pre-treatment measured variables FVC, FEV1 and PEF (p>0.05), while there was a significant difference when comparing pre and post-treatment mean values of all measured variables FVC, FEV 1 and PEF in each group (p<0.01). When comparing post mean values between both groups, the results revealed a significant improvement in favor to Group I (p<0.01). Conclusions: Early mobilization is effective in improving ventilatory functions after open heart surgery.