Mediastinitis, Coronary Artery Disease, Cardiovascular Infections
Conditions
Keywords
Sternal instability, physical therapy, Respiratory muscle strength
Brief summary
Sternal instability caused by mediastinitis is one of the most feared complications for cardiac surgery team for generating large commitments and functional damages to patients. Biomechanically, the contraction of abdominal muscles such as transverse abdominal, produces forces that result in a corset-like action and anterior thoracic cage muscles too may assist in stabilizing the sternum. Thus, strengthening the abdominal muscles might contribute to the recovery of functional aspects. The aim was to evaluate whether contraction and strengthening the abdominal muscles could improve lung function and respiratory muscle strength in patients with sternal instability.
Detailed description
Sternal instability was confirmed by physical examination and confirmed by chest tomography. The data were collected before and after the 3-week period of intervention. Sternal instability way assessed by the unstable sternal scale, graduated from zero to 4 points. The respiratory muscle strength was measured through Manuvacuometry and the pulmonary function by the spirometry. Pain was recorded by using a Visual Analog Scale (0 -10); Discomfort Scale( 0-10) and Identification of Activities that cause pain and discomfort. Patients underwent abdominal exercise protocol for three weeks once a day, lasting about 15 minutes followed by the physiotherapist.
Interventions
Consisted of trunk stabilization exercises.The exercises were undertaken for 15 minutes every day for tree weeks. Patients were the contract their abdominal muscles with an emphasis on the transverse abdominal. Patients were to contract their abdominal muscles in a supine,sitting and stand up position.
Sponsors
University of Sao Paulo
Emilia Nozawa, PT PhD
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Postoperative period of cardiovascular surgery by median sternotomy with sternal instability * Written Inform consent
Exclusion criteria
* Chest Tube * Hemodynamic instability * Neurological alteration * Active infection
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Improvement of pulmonary function | 3 weeks | Measure of maximal muscles respiratory pressures and spirometry tests |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Measure of pain on the Visual Analog Scale | 3 weeks | Pain Visual Analog Scale |
| Discomfort - using Discomfort Scale | 3 weeks | Activities using Discomfort Scale |
Outcome results
None listed