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This is a plain English summary of an original research article. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.
A physiotherapy session before planned abdominal surgery, explaining the importance of breathing exercises and sitting out of bed as soon after surgery as possible, halves the risk of pneumonia.
This trial compared the physiotherapy session with usual care which was provided to all 432 participants. This consisted of a leaflet given in the pre-operative outpatient clinic outlining the exercises, and physiotherapy input in the days after surgery. Just seven people would need to receive the additional 30-minute pre-operative physiotherapy session to prevent one lung complication.
The study was carried out in Australia and New Zealand, where usual care may differ from that provided by the Enhanced Recovery Programme in the NHS. However, the results are impressive and show the importance of face-to-face sessions to prepare people to give themselves the best chance of a speedy recovery.
Why was this study needed?
Lung complications, such as pneumonia, are the most common serious adverse effects following upper abdominal surgery. The effects of anaesthesia increased pressure within the abdomen, immobility and difficulty taking deep breaths due to pain means that parts of the lung are not adequately expanded, providing a haven for bacteria. Lung complications are reported in 10 to 50%, depending on the type of surgery, individual risk factors and definition of lung complications.
People are usually advised to do breathing exercises, sit up out of bed and begin walking on the day after upper abdominal surgery to help prevent lung complications. This is supported by nursing and physiotherapy staff.
Previous observational research has shown mixed effects of breathing exercises on outcomes. This is the first prospective randomised controlled trial that aimed to see if a physiotherapy session before the operation reduced the risk of lung complications.
What did this study do?
This trial compared a pre-operative physiotherapy session with treatment as usual for 432 adults undergoing abdominal surgery. Both groups were given a patient information leaflet, during a pre-operative outpatient clinic. This provided recommendations on hourly breathing and coughing exercises after surgery. They were also seen by a physiotherapist on the day after surgery to help them start walking and to remind them to do the breathing exercises.
Those allocated to physiotherapy had an additional 30-minute session during the six weeks before surgery. It included education about stagnant lung secretions, and how to perform the breathing exercises.
Participants in the pre-operative physiotherapy group were younger (average age 63.4 versus 67.5 years) and slightly less likely to have diabetes, lung or heart disease.
What did it find?
- Pre-operative physiotherapy halved the rate of lung complications up to 14 days after surgery. A post-operative lung complication occurred in 12% (27/218) of people who had received physiotherapy compared to 27% (58/214) who had not (hazard ratio [HR] 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.30 to 0.75). The analysis was adjusted for age, type of surgery and prior lung disease.
- Seven people would need to have pre-operative physiotherapy to prevent one post-operative lung complication (95% CI 5 to 14).
- Physiotherapy also halved the rate of hospital-acquired pneumonia, which occurred in 8% (18/218) of the physiotherapy group versus 20% (42/214) of the control group (adjusted HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.78).
- There was no difference in length of hospital stay, hospital readmissions; patient-reported complications at six weeks, or deaths up to one year.
What does current guidance say on this issue?
No national guidelines on pre-operative physiotherapy for abdominal surgery are available. However, physiotherapy and early mobilisation is a component of the Enhanced Recovery Programme for people having major surgery.
Local NHS trusts have patient information leaflets on physiotherapy after abdominal surgery. They recommend deep breathing exercises and coughing, preferably in a chair or as upright as possible in bed. They also advise walking on the day after surgery and keeping a diary of distances achieved each day.
What are the implications?
The combination of in-person coaching – and providing this before surgery – may be crucial to the improvements seen.
Both groups were reminded by a physiotherapist post-operatively to perform breathing exercises as directed in the leaflet, but they received no further instruction. If people have a greater awareness of the importance of breathing exercises and have been shown how to do them before surgery, then they can put them into practice straight after surgery.
This non-invasive intervention was clinically effective, and though a cost-analysis was not performed, pre-operative sessions could potentially be done in a group format to make the best use of resources.
Citation and Funding
Boden I, Skinner EH, Browning L, et al. Preoperative physiotherapy for the prevention of respiratory complications after upper abdominal surgery: pragmatic, double blinded, multicentre randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2018;360:j5916
This project was funded by the Clifford Craig Foundation and the University of Tasmania, both from Australia, and the Waitemata District Health Board and Three Harbours Health Foundation from New Zealand.
Bibliography
Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust. Physiotherapy advice after abdominal surgery. Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust. Devon.
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