Inspiratory Muscle Training Improved Cardiorespiratory Performance in Patients Undergoing Open Heart Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inspiratory muscle training on inspiratory muscle strength and cardiorespiratory performance in patients undergoing open heart surgery.

METHOD

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial with two groups. Fifty-eight patients who underwent open heart surgery were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group 29 in the control group and 29 in the intervention group. Patients in the intervention group participated in a physical therapy program combined with inspiratory muscle training using the Thammasat University (TU) Breath Trainer. Patients in the control group received only the standard physical therapy program. The maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure and 6 min walk test distance were assessed both before surgery and prior to hospital discharge.

RESULTS

The intervention group had a significant increase in maximum inspiratory pressure ( < 0.001), maximum expiratory pressure ( < 0.001) and 6 min walk test distance ( = 0.013). The control group had a significant decrease in maximum inspiratory pressure ( < 0.001), maximum expiratory pressure ( = 0.002) and 6 min walk test distance ( < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Inspiratory muscle training can be performed using maximum pressure resistors, such as the TU-Breath Trainer device. This training has been shown to effectively improve inspiratory muscle strength and cardiorespiratory performance in patients undergoing open heart surgery, as well as reduce pulmonary complications and shorten the length of hospital stay.