title: Respiratory muscle training in patients recovering recent open cardiothoracic surgery: a randomized-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical efficacy and feasibility of an expiratory muscle training (EMT) device (Respilift) applied to patients recovering from recent open cardiothoracic surgery (CTS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, double-blind, 14-day randomised-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 inpatients recovering from recent CTS and early admitted to a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Interventions. Chest physiotherapy plus EMT with a resistive load of 30 cm H2O for active group and chest physiotherapy plus EMT with a sham load for control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were considered as primary outcome, while maximal inspiratory pressures (MIP), dynamic and static lung volumes, oxygenation, perceived symptoms of dyspnoea, thoracic pain, and well being (evaluated by visual analogic scale-VAS) and general health status were considered secondary outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All outcomes recorded showed significant improvements in both groups; however, the change of MEP (+34.2 mmHg, P < 0.001 and +26.1%, P < 0.001 for absolute and % of predicted, resp.) was significantly higher in active group. Also VAS dyspnoea improved faster and more significantly (P < 0.05) at day 12, and 14 in active group when compared with control. The drop-out rate was 6%, without differences between groups. Conclusions. In patients recovering from recent CTS, specific EMT by Respilift is feasible and effective. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01510275.
authors.affiliation: University of Modena, DU of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Via del Pozzo 171, 41121 Modena, Italy. ecrisafulli@pneumonet.it
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crisafulli
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Venturelli
authors.forename: Gherardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siscaro
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Florini
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papetti
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lugli
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerulli
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale