A randomized clinical trial in improving pulmonary function and functional capacity in pediatric open abdominal...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric surgery
• Respiratory physiotherapy
• Rehabilitation medicine

Background:

• Open abdominal surgery in children can compromise pulmonary function and functional capacity.
• Early and comprehensive physiotherapy interventions are crucial for recovery.
• Assessing the impact of preoperative education alongside postoperative care is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative physiotherapy education (POPE) combined with postoperative physiotherapy (POP) in preserving pulmonary function and functional capacity in pediatric patients undergoing open abdominal surgery.
• To compare this combined approach against a standard care group receiving only postoperative physiotherapy (POP).

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 21 children (aged 5-17 years) undergoing open abdominal surgery.
• Intervention group received POPE + POP; control group received POP only.
• Primary outcome: pulmonary function (spirometry). Secondary outcomes: functional capacity (6MWT, 10mWT, TUGT, 9SCT), chest expansion.

Main Results:

• All spirometric parameters returned to near preoperative values in both groups by POD5.
• Significant improvements in spirometric parameters were observed from POD1 to POD5 in the POPE + POP group compared to the POP-only group.
• The POPE + POP group showed statistically significant improvements in TUGT, 10mWT, and 9SCT from pre-operation to POD5 and from POD1 to POD5.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative physiotherapy education combined with postoperative physiotherapy demonstrates a potential benefit in enhancing pulmonary function and functional capacity in pediatric patients post open abdominal surgery.
• This combined approach may offer superior outcomes compared to standard postoperative physiotherapy alone.