The Effect of Chest Physiotherapy After Bariatric Surgery on Pulmonary Functions, Functional Capacity, and Quality of Life

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chest physiotherapy (CP) applied to patients undergoing bariatric surgery on pulmonary functions, dyspnea levels, functional capacity, and quality of life. Methods The patients were randomized and divided into two groups each comprising 74 patients. CP and mobilization was applied to the patients in the first group, and only mobilization was applied to the patients in the second group. The treatment of the patients was started on the first postoperative day and continued until the postoperative 4th day. CP and mobilization were applied twice a day, 8 times in total. The following parameters were evaluated: arterial blood gas, oxygen saturation, respiratory function test for pulmonary functions, pulmonary artery pressure for pulmonary hypertension, Borg dyspnea score for severity of dyspnea, 6-min walk test(6MWT) for functional capacity, Nottingham Health Profile for quality of life. Results The mean age of the patients was 38.00 +/- 7.04 years. Compared with pretreatment and posttreatment dyspnea score, 6MWT, oxygen saturation, vital capacity, tidal volume, PEF, pulmonary arterial pressure, and quality of life were significantly higher in patients who underwent CP compared with the control group(p = 0.008, 0.004, 0.005, 0.027, 0.029, 0.028, 0.007, 0.012).There was a significant improvement in all the parameters of the patients who underwent chest physiotherapy when compared with the intragroup comparisons, whereas in the control group, only 6MWT and quality of life score showed a significant improvement in the border (p = 0.037, 0.046). Conclusion Postoperative CP applied to patients who had bariatric surgery showed that the patients improved their respiratory functions, regulated arterial blood gases, increased oxygen saturation, functional capacity and quality of life, and decreased dyspnea levels.