Effect of respiratory trainer on lung function recovery in patients after thoracic surgery

Objective To observe the improvement of respiratory training interventions by respiratory trainer on lung function indicators such as forced vital capacity and the quality of life in patients after thoracic surgery. Methods Eighty-four patients who underwent thoracotomy in the department of thoracic surgery, First People's Hospital of Hangzhou from July 2016 to September 2018 were enrolled. They were randomly divided into intervention group and control group according to the random number table method. Patients in the control group received routine care, and the intervention group received respiratory training interventions by respiratory trainer based on routine care. The intervention was last for 2 weeks. Results Compared with the control group, pulmonary function indexes, one-second forced expiratory volume(FEV1, 2.23±0.26 vs. 2.03±0.33, P=0.003), forced vital capacity(FVC, 3.25±0.37 vs. 3.01±0.39, P=0.005), and exercise tolerance indexes, blood carbon dioxide partial pressure(PaCO₂, 65.34±3.75 vs. 63.77±3.24, P=0.043) and blood oxygen partial pressure(PaO₂, 46.95±4.26 vs. 48.92±3.69, P=0.026), and the quality of life(66.27±4.36 vs. 63.18±5.31, P=0.005), the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05), but the difference in the ratio of forced expiratory volume to vital capacity(FEV1/FCV)in one second was not statistically significant. Conclusion The use of respiratory trainers after thoracic surgery can effectively improve the lung function of patients and improve their quality of life.