[Pulmonary rehabilitation of patients following thoracic and upper abdominal surgery]

The incidence of pulmonary complications is high in patients undergoing thoracic and upper abdominal surgery. Such surgery requires that an incision be made into the patient's respiratory muscles. As a result, each respiration taken induces great pain, which makes patients breathe shallowly and prevents their taking deep breaths and coughing. This article takes a pathophysiological approach in examining the mechanisms involved in the development of pulmonary complications and critiques the effectiveness of rehabilitative interventions that are described in the published literature. Upper arm exercise is suggested as an effective and acceptable intervention to promote pulmonary rehabilitation for this group of patients.