Effects of Physical Therapy on Cardiac Surgery

Incentive Spirometry (IS) has been used extensively in postoperative period and consists of spontaneous deep breaths through a device which provides a visual feedback to maintain a maximum insuflation

An one-way valve device to promote the summation of successive inspiratory volumes while expiration was avoided

Patients were taught huffing (forced expiration while the glottis is opened), supported cough (with patient's hands placed on the sternotomy incision) and mobilization, including active limb exercises, sit out of bed and deambulation (starting on the third postoperative day).