title: The effect of non-invasive positive airway pressure therapy following thoracic surgical procedures: protocol for a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thoracic surgical procedures impair respiratory function, decreasing ventilation and oxygenation and increasing the risk of acute respiratory failure and pulmonary complications. To prevent these clinical repercussions, positive airway pressure therapy is widely used to increase pulmonary ventilation, decrease muscle overload, and ensure adequate oxygenation; however, the benefit of this therapy remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search of the literature including PubMed, CINAHL, AMED, PsycINFO, LILACS, Scielo, Scopus, PEDro, and the Cochrane Library will identify the randomized and quasi-randomized trials that used CPAP, Bilevel, or IPPB compared with a control without intervention, a sham treatment or other lung expansion techniques following thoracic surgical procedures. From these trials, we will extract data on a predefined list of outcomes, including oxygenation, ventilation, respiratory failure, pulmonary complications, and time of resolution of the clinical condition. The methodological quality of each trial included will be assessed using the PEDro scale. The strength of the recommendations will be summarized using the GRADE scale. Meta-analyses will be performed, if appropriate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review aims to promote greater knowledge regarding the efficiency of the use of non-invasive positive airway pressure on recovery of respiratory function and on prevention of pulmonary complications following thoracic surgical procedures. This review could help health professionals improve the care for patients undergoing thoracic surgical procedures.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PROSPERO CRD42015019004.
authors.affiliation: Master's and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, Cesário Galeno Street, 448/475, Sao Paulo, 03071-000, Brazil. drelinaldofisio@htmail.com.|Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Macapá, Brazil. drelinaldofisio@htmail.com.
authors.forename: Elinaldo da Conceição
authors.initials: Eda C
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Master's and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, Cesário Galeno Street, 448/475, Sao Paulo, 03071-000, Brazil. adriana.lunardi@unicid.edu.br.|Department of Physical Therapy, School of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. adriana.lunardi@unicid.edu.br.
authors.forename: Adriana Claudia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lunardi
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012107:Research Design; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures