| dc.description.abstract | Several respiratory physiotherapy techniques
such as deep breathing exercises, positive
expiratory pressure (PEP) exercises and
incentive spirometry are practiced worldwide
by patients undergoing coronary artery
bypass grafting (CABG). This study aimed to
determine the current practice of respiratory
physiotherapy among physiotherapists for
patients undergoing CABG in Sri Lanka. It was
conducted among physiotherapists participating
in CABG management in cardiothoracic units
in all government and private hospitals in Sri
Lanka. Ethics clearance was obtained from
Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Colombo. Data was collected using
an expert-validated, pretested self-administered
questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version
21. Twenty nine physiotherapists participated
(response rate-50.87%). Majority (51.7%) were
males. Mean (+/-SD) age was 39.17+/-11.6 years.
Mean (+/-SD) work experience and duration of
practice as a physiotherapist in cardiothoracic
unitswere 13.88+/-11.22 and 5.48+/-5.4 years
respectively. All physiotherapists practiced
the following on all patients: commenced
physiotherapy pre-operatively, commenced
physiotherapy post-operatively on 1st postoperative
day, treated patients in intensive care
units (ICUs) and wards daily, practiced deep
breathing exercises and incentive spirometrypre-operatively
until discharged, prescribed home
exercises for at least 3 weeks and provided
incentive spirometer for home use. Majority
(65.5%) advised patients to practice incentive
spirometry for one month after CABG.
However, no physiotherapist practiced PEP
techniques. The study concludes that for patients
undergoing CABG in Sri Lanka, despite lack of
a uniform protocol and variations in frequency
and duration, all physiotherapists commence
respiratory physiotherapy preoperatively, treat
patients in ICU and wards regularly, and arrange
home physiotherapy, using incentive spirometry
as the first choice. | en_US |
