Effect of reducing the radiation pneumonitis by abdominal breathing exercises in patients with chest malignant tumors / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the prophylactic effect of abdominal breathing exercises on radiation pneumonitis in patients with chest malignant tumors.Methods 100 patients with chest malignant tumors were given radiotherapy and divided with random digit table into the exercise group and the control group with 50 patients in each group.The incidence rate of radiation pneumonitis in both groups was compared.The prophylactic effect of abdominal breathing exercises on radiation pneumonitis was evaluated.Results The incidence of radiation pneumonitis in abdominal breathing exercise group was significantly reduced [34％ (17/50) vs.56％ (28/50),Z=2.397,P＜0.05],the incidences of grade Ⅰ [22％ (11/50) vs.30％ (15/50)] and grade Ⅱ [12％ (6/50) vs.18％ (9/50)] radiation pneumonitis decreased,and no grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ radiation pneumonitis occurred.Conclusions The incidence of radiation pneumonitis in patients with chest malignant tumors treated with radiation therapy may be decreased by abdominal breathing exercises,which may be widely applied in patients treated with radiation therapy.