Protocol for preoperative inspiratory muscle training in elective cardiac surgery: pilot study

Abstract

Introduction: Individuals with low values for maximal respiratory pressures in preoperative of cardiac surgery have higher risk of developing pulmonary complications in the postoperative period. Objectives: To evaluate a preoperative protocol of inspiratory muscle training for individuals undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Methods: Twelve patients were divided into an inspiratory muscle training group and a control group. Threshold®IMT with a 30% of maximal inspiratory pressure load, adjusted at each three days, totaling 15 days of training, and normality Shapiro-Wilk test were used. Comparisons between means were performed using paired and unpaired Student's t-tests. Results: It was found a gain of 37cmH2O and 33cmH2O in maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, respectively, when comparing values before and after training, being significant from the third day of training. Conclusion: The protocol tested in this study proved to be effective in increasing preoperative muscle strength from the third day of home training.