Comparison of Balloon-Blowing Exercise and Incentive Spirometry after Thoracotomy

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare effect of balloon blowing exercise & incentive spirometer on Chest expansion, Improvement in lung volumes and capacities, Level of dyspnoea, and on Improvement in progression of walk in post-thoracotomy stable patients. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted in thoracic surgical ICU of Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore for the period of 6 months from September 2018 - February 2019. Patients and Methods: The sample size was calculated through Open Epi, and it was 48. 24 subjects were assigned to control group A and 24 to experimental group B through non-purposive random sampling technique. Data was collected at base line, 3rd and 5th day after exercise therapy on above stated outcome measures, by using Tape Measure, Digital Spirometer, RPE Scale and Pedometer respectively, from non-critical post-thoracotomy patients. Control Group-A performed routine respiratory physiotherapy + incentive spirometry and Experimental Group- B performed routine respiratory physiotherapy + balloon blowing exercise. Results: BBE + routine respiratory physiotherapy was found equally effective on mentioned outcome measure as Incentive Spirometry + routine respiratory physiotherapy in stated patients. (P >0.05) Conclusion: Based upon statistical analysis, it can be concluded that incentive spirometer can be replaced with balloon-blowing exercise with conventional/routine respiratory physiotherapy in thoracotomy patients who have lung surgeries, to overcome post-op pulmonary complications or to achieve the same outcomes as that of incentive spirometer. Keywords: BBE, Incentive Spirometer, Routine Respiratory Physiotherapy, Post-Thoracotomy Patients