Effects of Adding Incentive Spirometry to Hospital‐Based Cardiovascular Rehabilitation on Pulmonary Complications, Hospital Length of Stay, and Clinical‐Functional Recovery After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Purpose This study investigated the effects of combining incentive spirometry with cardiac rehabilitation compared with cardiac rehabilitation alone on postoperative pulmonary complications, clinical‐functional recovery, and hospital length of stay in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods Randomized controlled trial was conducted from May 2019 to October 2023 in two hospitals, including 46 inpatients undergoing cardiac surgery. Participants were assigned to incentive spirometry plus cardiac rehabilitation or cardiac rehabilitation alone. Both interventions were performed twice daily; spirometry used a volume‐oriented device, and rehabilitation followed a seven‐step protocol (2–4 METs). Outcomes included postoperative pulmonary complications, functional capacity (6‐min walk test), handgrip strength, respiratory muscle function, and length of hospital stay. Results The incentive spirometry associated with cardiac rehabilitation group had a longer extracorporeal circulation time (98 ± 26 min) than the cardiac rehabilitation group (76 ± 1; p = 0.008). Both groups showed a postoperative decline in respiratory muscle strength, and walking distance (MD: −64.37 m; 95% CI: [−24.1; −104.6]; d = 0.71), with no difference in postoperative pulmonary complications and handgrip strength. The incentive spirometry associated with cardiac rehabilitation group did not significantly differ on postoperative hospital stay compared with the cardiac rehabilitation group (MD: −1 day; 95% CI: [−4.71; 2.71]; d = −0.19). Conclusions In this study, no additional benefit was observed with the addition of incentive spirometry to cardiac rehabilitation compared with cardiac rehabilitation alone. No significant differences were detected between groups in postoperative pulmonary complications, hospital length of stay, or clinical‐functional recovery among individuals undergoing cardiac surgery. Trial Registration Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (REBEC) under the number RBR‐8tsjf97