Effects of early mobilization on pulmonary parameters and complications post coronary artery bypass graft surgery

This study compared the effects of a four-phase and a three-phase early mobilization protocol on respiratory parameters and complications in patients following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. This is a three-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled clinical trial with 120 candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Participants were randomly allocated to three groups: four-phase early mobilization protocol, three-phase early mobilization protocol, and control. Arterial blood gases, oxygen saturation, and incidence of pulmonary complications were compared among the groups. Mean arterial blood gases and oxygen saturation improved significantly over time in both four-phase early mobilization protocol and three-phase early mobilization protocol groups compared to control (p < 0.05). There were observed trends for greater improvements in the study outcomes with three-phase early mobilization protocol than four-phase early mobilization protocol; however, did not reach statistically significant levels. The incidence of pulmonary complications was significantly in both intervention groups compared to control (odds ratio: 0.48, 95 % CI 0.007-0.537; p < 0.001). Both four-phase early mobilization and the three-phase early mobilization protocols improved respiratory parameters and reduced pulmonary complications. Statistically insignificant trends were found trends in the three-phase early mobilization protocol, focusing on chest physiotherapy and breathing exercises.