Effectiveness of breathing exercises in preventing pulmonary complications following open heart surgery

The effectiveness of breathing exercises in preventing pulmonary complications was studied in 40 patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Both high- and low-risk patients in the experimental group received one preoperative teaching session and treatment twice a day for the first four days postextubation. Routine postoperative care was given to all 40 patients. Breathing exercises reduced the incidence of pulmonary complications and the necessity for percutaneous endotracheal catheters in the high-risk group. These results justify the use of breathing exercises with the high-risk open-heart surgical patient.