The Effect of Breathing Exercises on Preventing Postoperative Atelectasis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to assess the effect of pre-operative breathing exercises provided to patientsundergoing open-heart operation on atelectasis development during the post-operative period.Method: This randomized controlled study was conducted with 48 patients hospitalized for open-heartsurgery. Training was provided to the patients in the experimental group in the form of breathing exercisesand spirometry and the instructed exercises were performed by the patients for 7 days before theoperation. The patients in both groups were assessed in terms of atelectasis during post-operative days.Results: The proportion of atelectasis development on the post-op 0th day was 71% in the experimentalgroup and 92% in the control group. In terms of average peripheral oxygen saturation, the patients in theexperimental group had higher oxygen saturation than the patients in the control group (p