Effect of deep breathing exercises on oxygenation after major head and neck surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate respiratory and hemodynamic responses to deep breathing exercise (DBE) during the follow-up period in the intensive care unit after major head and neck surgery.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients were instructed to perform DBE every hour for 3 consecutive hours during the first postoperative day. The ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO(2)/FiO(2)), oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was recorded.


RESULTS
DBE increased the PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio from 416.7 +/- 143.6 to 453.4 +/- 141.4 mm Hg and increased SpO(2) from 97.4 +/- 1.9 to 99.2 +/- 0.9. DBE decreased the RR from 24.1 +/- 3.3 to 21.8 +/- 2.9 breaths/min (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference in HR or MAP was observed after DBE (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
DBE improves oxygenation after major head and neck surgery, without causing additional harmful hemodynamic effects.
Genç
Arzu
A
Dokuz Eylül University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Izmir, Turkey. arzu.genc@deu.edu.tr <arzu.genc@deu.edu.tr>
Ikiz
Ahmet Omer
AO
Güneri
Enis Alpin
EA
Günerli
Ali
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D010100:Oxygen