Preoperative Respiratory Physiotherapy in Abdominoplasty Patients

After abdominoplasty, patients experience decreased ventilatory function and increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Breathing exercises are used during the pre- and postoperative periods of several abdominal surgeries to prevent or minimize postoperative complications.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of preoperative respiratory physiotherapy on the outcome of abdominoplasty patients.

Thirty-three patients were divided into 2 groups. The control group (n = 18) received no preoperative intervention. The intervention group (n = 15) performed breathing exercises during the preoperative period, including incentive spirometry, diaphragmatic breathing, shortened expiration, and sustained maximal inspiration. Respiratory physiotherapy started one week before surgery. Breathing exercises were performed daily. They were performed 3 times weekly in the presence of a physiotherapist and patients were instructed to carry on the exercises at home on days without physiotherapy sessions for three sets of 20 repetitions each. Patients were assessed by spirometry and IAP measurements.

No significant difference in spirometry was found between groups. However, patients in the intervention group had lower IAP at the start of surgery and at all time points (P = 0.010) compared with controls.

Preoperative respiratory physiotherapy had no impact on spirometry, but may have contributed to reduce IAP intraoperatively.