title: Inspiratory muscle training for diaphragm dysfunction after cardiac surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diaphragm dysfunction is a complication of cardiac surgery with partial or absent spontaneous recovery in most cases. Surgical diaphragm plication represents the only option when symptoms persist. Because training improves functional nerve recovery after a nerve lesion, we hypothesized that early diaphragm muscle training may be beneficial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized at 2:1 ratio, controlled trial of diaphragm training using an adjustable pressure device (Threshold; Philips Respironics Inc, Murrysville, Pa) versus no training (sham device) was performed in patients with diaphragm paralysis after major cardiac surgery. This 1-year study recruited consecutive adult patients with sniff fluoroscopy-defined diaphragm paralysis after coronary bypass, valve replacement, or both. The outcome measures were diaphragm function recovery assessed by sniff fluoroscopy, maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures, and lung function tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 69 patients were randomized. At 12 months, 52 patients completed the study assessments, 36 in the treatment group and 16 in the control group. Inspiratory muscle training produced a significant improvement of diaphragm mobility after 12 months (P < .001). Most patients in the training group (77.78%) experienced a partial improvement (41.67%) or achieved a complete improvement (36.11%) versus no improvement (87.5%) or partial recovery (12.5%) among controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inspiratory muscle training may improve inspiratory muscle strength and increases paralyzed diaphragm mobility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, University Hospital of Cattinara, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Metka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kodric
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torregiani
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cifaldi
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cantarutti
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Confalonieri
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires