A comprehensive physical functional assessment of survivors of critical care unit stay due to COVID-19.

Objective: To examine the physical function and respiratory muscle strength of patients - who recovered from critical COVID-19 - after intensive care unit discharge to the ward on Days one (D1) and seven (D7), and to investigate variables associated with functional impairment.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of adult patients with COVID-19 who needed invasive mechanical ventilation, non-invasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula and were discharged from the intensive care unit to the ward. Participants were submitted to Medical Research Council sum-score, handgrip strength, maximal inspiratory pressure, maximal expiratory pressure, and short physical performance battery tests.

Impact of Preoperative Functional Capacity on Postoperative Outcomes in Congenital Heart Surgery: An Observational and Prospective Study.

Background: Despite advances in surgical technique and postoperative care in congenital heart disease, cardiovascular morbidity is still high.

Objective: To evaluate the association between preoperative cardiovascular fitness of children and adolescents, measured by the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and the occurrence of cardiogenic, septic shock and death in the postoperative period.

Methods: Prospective, observational clinic study including 81 patients aged from 8 to 18 years.

Physiological abnormalities and adverse events during physical therapy in the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery: A prospective observational study.

Background: After cardiac surgery, physiological abnormalities or adverse events might occur in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) during physical therapy care. Identifying these events may help improve patient safety and care.

Objectives: To estimate the incidence and the degree of severity of physiological abnormalities or adverse events during physical therapy interventions provided in the ICU after cardiac surgery.

Exercise-induced desaturation in subjects with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: laboratory-based tests versus field-based exercise tests.

Objective: To investigate the validity of field walking tests to identify exercise-induced hypoxemia and to compare cardiorespiratory responses and perceived effort between laboratory-based and field-based exercise tests in subjects with bronchiectasis.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 72 non-oxygen-dependent participants (28 men; mean age = 48.3 ± 14.

Infra-Abdominal Muscles Activation Brings Benefits to the Pulmonary Function of Patients with Sternal Instability after Cardiac Surgery.

Objective: To compare physical therapy strategies involving abdominal muscle stabilization, with and without upper limb movement, in patients with sternal instability after heart surgery and during in-hospital care.

Methods: This prospective, longitudinal, randomized, and comparative clinical study included 20 patients, which were divided into two groups: ARM, the arm group (n=10), and LEG, the leg group (n=10). The study involved the evaluation of scores of visual analog scales for sternal instability, pain, discomfort, functional impairment, lung function, and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) before and after the interventions.

A propose of pulmonary dysfunction stratification after valve surgery by physiotherapeutic assistance level.

Objective: a) to propose and implement an evaluation system; b) to classify the pulmonary involvement and determine levels of physical therapy; c) to check the progress postoperatively.

Methods: Patients underwent physiotherapy assessment preoperatively, postoperatively and after 5 days of intervention. They were classified into three levels of care: level 1 - low risk of complication; Level 2 - medium risk; Level 3 - high risk.

Randomized and comparative study between two intra-hospital exercise programs for heart transplant patients.

Objective: To compare the effects of two physical therapy exercise in-hospital programs in pulmonary function and functional capacity of patients in the postoperative period of heart transplantation.

Methods: Twenty-two heart transplanted patients were randomized to the control group (CG, n=11) and training group (TG, n=11). The control group conducted the exercise program adopted as routine in the institution and the training group has had a protocol consisting of 10 stages, with incremental exercises: breathing exercises, resistance training, stretching and walking.

Asynchrony and hyperinflation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during two types of upper limbs exercise.

Introduction: Occurrence of dynamic hyperinflation during upper-limbs exercises in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients it is not well established. We hypothesized that dynamic hyperinflation and thoracoabdominal asynchrony occurs in COPD patients accomplishing arms exercises. We assessed the occurrence and association of dynamic hyperinflation and thoracoabdominal asynchrony in COPD patients during the accomplishment of two arm exercises.

High levels of B-type natriuretic peptide predict weaning failure from mechanical ventilation in adult patients after cardiac surgery.

Objective: The failure to wean from mechanical ventilation is related to worse outcomes after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the serum level of B-type natriuretic peptide is a predictor of weaning failure from mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study of 101 patients who underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Study of breathing pattern and thoracoabdominal movement in mitral valve disease.

Background: patients with mitral valve disease can progress to having pulmonary congestion, which increases the work the respiratory muscles. This overload can change the breathing pattern with a predominance of rib cage displacement or presence of paradoxical movements.

Objective: a) to study the breathing pattern and thoracoabdominal movement of patients with mitral valve disease; b) to study the effect of body position on breathing parameters; and c) to correlate pulmonary hypertension with lack of coordination of thoracoabdominal movement.

Alveolar recruitment maneuver in refractory hypoxemia and lobar atelectasis after cardiac surgery: a case report.

Objective: This case report describes an unusual presentation of right upper lobe atelectasis associated with refractory hypoxemia to conventional alveolar recruitment maneuvers in a patient soon after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Method: Case-report.

Results: The alveolar recruitment with PEEP = 40 cm H2O improved the patient's atelectasis and hypoxemia.

Efficacy of diaphragmatic breathing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This study investigated the effects of diaphragmatic breathing (DB) on ventilation and breathing pattern, seeking to identify predictors of its efficacy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Twenty-nine patients with moderate and severe COPD were monitored using respiratory inductance plethysmography and metabolic gas analysis. After 4 minutes of natural breathing, subjects completed 2 minutes of DB followed by 4 minutes of natural breathing.

PEEP-ZEEP technique: cardiorespiratory repercussions in mechanically ventilated patients submitted to a coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: The PEEP-ZEEP technique is previously described as a lung inflation through a positive pressure enhancement at the end of expiration (PEEP), followed by rapid lung deflation with an abrupt reduction in the PEEP to 0 cmH2O (ZEEP), associated to a manual bilateral thoracic compression.

Aim: To analyze PEEP-ZEEP technique's repercussions on the cardio-respiratory system in immediate postoperative artery graft bypass patients.

Methods: 15 patients submitted to a coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) were enrolled prospectively, before, 10 minutes and 30 minutes after the technique.

Effects of massage therapy on sleep quality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Introduction: Having poor sleep quality is common among patients following cardiopulmonary artery bypass graft surgery. Pain, stress, anxiety and poor sleep quality may be improved by massage therapy.

Objective: This study evaluated whether massage therapy is an effective technique for improving sleep quality in patients following cardiopulmonary artery bypass graft surgery.

Application of noninvasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure after cardiovascular surgery.

Objective: To examine ventilatory response, oxygenation-related, and hemodynamics of patients with hypoxemic acute respiratory failure (ARF) submitted to noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) during the postoperative phase of cardiovascular surgery in order to identify predictive variables of success, and to compare the different types of NIV.

Methods: Seventy patients with hypoxemic ARF were randomized to one of three modalities of NIV--continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and ventilation with two pressure levels (PEEP + SP and BiPAP). Ventilation, oxygenation-related, and hemodynamics variables were analyzed at pre-application, and 3, 6, and 12 hours after the protocol began.

[Alveolar recruitment maneuver to reverse hypoxemia in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery.].

Background And Objectives: To evaluate the effects of the alveolar recruitment maneuver on oxygenation and exhaled tidal volume, in patients with hypoxemia, in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery.

Methods: This is a prospective, consecutive study. Among the 469 cardiac surgeries performed from February to April 2006, 40 patients (8.

Randomized, prospective trial of oxygen, continuous positive airway pressure, and bilevel positive airway pressure by face mask in acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Objective: To compare the effects of oxygen, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and bilevel positive airway pressure (bilevel-PAP) on the rate of endotracheal intubation in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Design: Randomized, controlled trial.

Setting: Tertiary hospital emergency room.