Effects of preoperative respiratory muscle training for improvement of postoperative health related quality of life in mitral valve replacement patients.

Background And Purpose: A patient's defective mitral valve is replaced as part of a treatment called mitral valve replacement (MVR) with a mechanical or biological (bioprosthetic) valve. To evaluate the effects of preoperative respiratory muscle training (RMT) on the improvement of postoperative Health related quality of life in MVR patients.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology. A Sample of 40 adult patients aged 25-50 years of both genders who underwent MVR was selected and divided into two groups Group 1 (Respiratory Muscle Training Group) was received RMT consisting of 10-15 repetitions a day for 5 days; for 3 weeks. Whereas Group 2 (Conventional Group) was receive breathing exercise consisting of 10-12 repetitions a day for 5 days; for 3 weeks. Modified Healthy Heart Questionnaire (HHQ-GP-1) was used as screening tool. In outcome measuring tools Health Related Quality of life Questionnaire (EuroQol), New York Heart Association, was used at baseline, 3rd week and postoperatively. Duration of Postoperative Mechanical Ventilation (hours) and Hospital Stay was also noted as outcome measures of this study.

Results: Results obtained indicate that level of Self-Care in EuroQol-5-D-5L has improved in group 1 3.35 ± 1.03 to 1.35 ± 0.48 showing significant improvement similarly in case of Hospital Length of Stay, Mechanical ventilation 4.05 ± 0.68 to 5.05 ± 0.51 and Pain 65.25 ± 8.34 to 71.50 ± 6.70 has improved.

Implications On Physiotherapy Practice: It was concluded that Respiratory Muscle Training and Conventional Muscle Training both are effective in MVR patients. But RMT is more effective in improving self-care, reducing pain, Hospital Length of Stay and Mechanical Ventilation in postoperative period as compared to Conventional Muscle Treatment.