Effects of Combined Stretching and Breathing Exercise on Hemodynamic and Oxygenation Changes in Patients Undergoing CABG Surgery

Adequate oxygenation and hemodynamic stability are important goals of nursing care after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of stretching combined with breathing exercise on hemodynamic and oxygenation changes in CABG patients.

In this randomized clinical trial study performed in 2020, 48 patients (35 men and 13 women) undergoing non-emergency CABG surgery at Shahid Madani Hospital of Tabriz were randomly divided into experimental (n=24) and control (n=24) groups. Evaluations of heart rate, blood pressure, and arterial blood oxygenation were performed before, immediately, and five day after exercises. Combined Stretching-breathing exercises were performed in the experimental group for five days and two times a day (morning and evening). The patients in the control group received the usual hospital care. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA at a significant level of p<0.05.

After five days of combined stretching-breathing exercise, the mean oxygen pressure (F=12.90, p=0.001) and oxygen saturation (F=16.38, p<0.001) of arterial blood increased significantly, while heart rate (F=21.01, p<0.001) and mean carbon dioxide pressure (F=11.95, p=0.001) decreased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. Immediately after the intervention, no significant difference was observed between two groups in the research variables.

Based on the research findings, combined stretching-breathing exercise had a beneficial effect on improving heart rate and arterial blood oxygenation in CABG patients and this can speed patient recovery as a rehabilitation program.