TY - JOUR T1 - Expiratory muscle training in patients recovering open thoracic and cardiac surgery JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - 2841 AU - Ernesto Crisafulli AU - Massimo Cerulli AU - Elena Venturelli AU - Fabio Florini AU - Nicoletta Kidonias AU - Assunta De Biase AU - Vittoria Furino AU - Enrico M. Clini Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/2841.abstract N2 - Respiratory muscle training has been so far demonstrated to be effective as a rehabilitation technique in COPD patients. However, it is still not clear whether it may similarly be useful when used in patients recovering open thoracic and cardiac surgery.We have therefore undertaken a randomised 14-day trial in these patients to evaluate changes in maximal expiratory (MEP, as the primary outcome) and inspiratory (MIP) pressures, lung volumes (FEV1, FCV, CV, CI, VR), oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2), perceived symptoms (VAS), and generic quality of life (SF36) following an early intervention including lung expansion + expiratory muscle training (Active) or lung expansion + sham training (Control). Training has been set with incremental resistive load over the study period.At present, 39 patients (out of the 54 programmed) completed the study, 19 and 20 in Active and Control respectively, with one patient dropped in each group. Anthropometrics and general characteristics, type of surgery, and functional variables at baseline were similar. Pre-to-post change of MEP showed a greater (p<0.043) change in Active (+17.5±25.7 cmH2O) than in Control (+14.4±26.2 cmH2O), whereas FVC, VC, TLC, and SF36 (mental and physical components) trended to better improve in the Active population. Daily recording of VAS dyspnea, discomfort and pain scores similarly decreased in the two groups.This study confirms that specific and early expiratory muscle training is feasible and effective in patients recovering open thoracic and cardiac surgery.(Unrestricted research grant by Medinet-Italia). ER -