title: Intermittent positive-pressure breathing after lung surgery.
abstract: Intermittent positive-pressure breathing is thought to avoid atelectasis and improve pulmonary function after major lung resections. Since no clear scientific data was available to confirm this, our objective was to determine whether atelectasis can be avoided and if postoperative lung function is improved. Prospective analysis was carried out in 135 patients operated on between 2007 and 2009; 55 received intermittent positive-pressure breathing. Pre- and postoperative lung function tests were similar in both groups. Pulmonary complications were observed in 19% of patients without intermittent positive-pressure breathing and 27% of those who received this treatment. We were unable to find evidence that additional improvement in postoperative pulmonary function is achieved when adding intermittent positive-pressure breathing to the standard physical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Merheim Lung Clinic, Cologne State Hospital, Ostmerheimer Strasse 200, Cologne, Germany. ludwigc@kliniken-koeln.de
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Angenendt
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stoelben
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000601:surgery*; D015505:Chest Tubes; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007384:Intermittent Positive-Pressure Breathing; D007902:Length of Stay; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome