TY - JOUR T1 - Breathing exercises for cardiac surgery patients - A national survey of clinical practice JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - P1171 AU - Elisabeth Westerdahl AU - Monika Fagevik Olsén Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1171.abstract N2 - There are differences in routines regarding recommendations of breathing exercises for cardiac surgery patients around the world. To date, no surveys of the use of breathing exercises for cardiac surgery patients in Europe have been performed.The aim of this national survey was to determine current practice of chest physiotherapy and breathing exercises for cardiac surgery patients in Sweden.A total population sample was identified and postal questionnaires were sent to the 33 physiotherapists working at the departments of thoracic surgery in Sweden. Structured and open-ended questions were asked about the routine care of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Results: In total, 29 replies were received. All physiotherapists instructed the patients to perform postoperative breathing exercises hourly, on a regular basis. Positive expiratory pressure device breathing was routinely used as first choice treatment by 83% of the physiotherapists. Instruction how to perform the breathing exercises as well as the frequency and duration of exercises differed between physiotherapists. Recommendation to continue breathing exercises after discharge was given by 66% of the physiotherapists, but how long the patients were recommended to continue the breathing exercises varied from 1 to 3 months.This survey provides an initial insight into chest physiotherapy management in Sweden. The routine use of breathing exercises is universal during the first postoperative days, but choice of breathing exercises and number of treatment sessions given vary. Comparison with treatment regimens in other countries is warranted to improve the postoperative management of the cardiac surgery patient. ER -