Perceived dyspnea and experience of hospitalized patients with acute decompensated heart failure undergoing an early MObilization protocol with immersive Virtual rEality: MOVE study protocol for a parallel superiority randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Immersive virtual reality (VR) is an innovative strategy for inpatient rehabilitation programs. Using immersive VR in early mobilization protocols has not yet been investigated in the setting of hospitalized patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), especially to improve perceived dyspnea, a common symptom of heart failure (HF). METHODS: This is a single-center parallel superiority randomized clinical trial. The study will be conducted at a public teaching hospital in Brazil from January 2023 to January 2024. The sample will include adult patients with ADHF hospitalized for at least 24 h, randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the control (standard early mobilization protocol conducted in the intensive care unit (ICU)) or intervention group (the same standard early mobilization protocol but associated with immersive VR). The primary outcome will be assessing perceived dyspnea, and the secondary outcome will be assessing patient experience. DISCUSSION: Using immersive VR in early mobilization protocols in the ICU is expected to improve perceived dyspnea in patients with ADHF as well as patient experience regarding care. This study has the potential to increase patient adherence to early mobilization protocols in the setting of ADHF as well as to promote a positive patient experience. Filling this gap could promote the rational incorporation of technologies in health care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study protocol is in its first version. CLINICALTRIALS: gov NCT05596292. Registered on 1 December 2022.

Positive expiratory pressure in postoperative cardiac patients in intensive care: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effectiveness of positive expiratory pressure blow-bottle device compared to expiratory positive airway pressure and conventional physiotherapy on pulmonary function in postoperative cardiac surgery patients in intensive care unit. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTINGS: Tertiary care. SUBJECTS: 48 patients (16 in each group; aged 64.5 ± 9.1 years, 38 male) submitted to cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized into conventional physiotherapy (G1), positive expiratory pressure blow-bottle device (G2) or expiratory positive airway pressure, both associated with conventional physiotherapy (G3). G2 and G3 performed three sets of 10 repetitions in each session for each technique. MAIN MEASURES: Pulmonary function (primary); respiratory muscle strength, radiological changes, pulmonary complications, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay (secondary) assessed preoperatively and on the 3rd postoperative day. RESULTS: Pulmonary function (except for forced expiratory volume in one second/ forced vital capacity % predicted) and respiratory muscle strength showed significant reduction from the preoperative to the 3rd postoperative in all groups (P < 0.001), with no difference between groups (P > 0.05). Regarding radiological changes, length of intensive care unit stay and length of hospital stay, there was no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both positive expiratory pressure techniques associated with conventional physiotherapy were similar, but there was no difference regarding the use of positive expiratory pressure compared to conventional physiotherapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03639974.https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03639974.

[Incentive spirometry with expiratory positive airway pressure brings benefits after myocardial revascularization].

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery have higher risk to develop pulmonary complications (PCs) such as atelectasis, pneumonia and pleural effusion. These complications could increase the length of hospital stay, resources utilization and also are associated with reduced quality of life and functional capacity a long term. OBJECTIVE: To test if the use of incentive spirometry (IS) associated with expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP), after CABG surgery improves dyspnea, effort perceived and quality of life 18 months after CABG. METHODS: Sixteen patients submitted to a CABG, were randomized to a control group (n=8) or IS+EPAP group (n=8). The protocol of IS+EPAP was applied in the immediate postoperative period and following for more 4 weeks in the patient's home. Eighteen months after CABG, the strength of the respiratory muscle, the functional capacity, the lung function, the quality of life and the level of physical activity were evaluated. RESULTS: After six minute walk test (6-MWT), the score of the dyspnea (1.6+/-0.6 vs 0.6+/-0.3, P<0.05) and the perceived effort (13.4+/-1.2 vs 9.1+/-0.7, P<0.05) were higher in the control group, when compared with the IS+EPAP group. In quality of life evaluation, the domain related to the physical aspects limitations was better in IS+EPAP group (93.7+/-4.1 vs 50+/-17, P<0.02). CONCLUSION: Patients that were submitted to IS+EPAP present reduction of dyspnea and lower effort sensation after the 6-MWT, and also a better quality of life 18 months after CABG.

Espirometria de incentivo com pressão positiva expiratória é benéfica após revascularização miocardio / Espirometría incentivada con presión positiva espiratoria es beneficiosa después de revascularización de miocardio / Incentive spirometry with expiratory positive airway pressure brings benefits after myocardial revascularization

FUNDAMENTO: Pacientes que são submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (CRM) apresentam risco maior para desenvolver complicações pulmonares, como atelectasias, pneumonia e derrame pleural. Estas complicações podem aumentar o tempo de internação hospitalar, a necessidade de recursos financeiros e também se associam com a redução da qualidade de vida e da capacidade funcional a longo prazo. OBJETIVO: Testar se o uso de espirometria de incentivo (EI) associada com pressão positiva expiratória na via aérea (EPAP), após CRM melhora a dispneia, a sensação de esforço percebido e a qualidade de vida 18 meses após a CRM. MÉTODOS: Dezesseis pacientes submetidos a CRM foram randomizados para o grupo controle (n=8) ou para o grupo EI+EPAP (n=8). O protocolo de EI+EPAP foi realizado no período pós-operatório imediato e durante mais 4 semanas no domicílio. Dezoito meses após a CRM foram avaliadas a força da musculatura respiratória, a capacidade funcional, a função pulmonar, a qualidade de vida e o nível de atividade física. RESULTADOS: Após o teste de caminhada de seis minutos (TC6), o escore para dispneia (1,6±0,6 vs 0,6±0,3, P<0,05) e a sensação de esforço (13,4±1,2 vs 9,1±0,7, P<0,05) foram maiores no grupo controle comparado com o grupo EI+EPAP. Na avaliação da qualidade de vida, o domínio relacionado às limitações nos aspectos físicos foi melhor no grupo EI+EPAP (93,7±4,1 vs 50±17, P<0,02). CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes que realizam EI+EPAP apresentam menos dispneia e menor sensação de esforço após o TC6 e também melhor qualidade de vida 18 meses após a CRM.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery have higher risk to develop pulmonary complications (PCs) such as atelectasis, pneumonia and pleural effusion. These complications could increase the length of hospital stay, resources utilization and also are associated with reduced quality of life and functional capacity a long term. OBJECTIVE: To test if the use of incentive spirometry (IS) associated with expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP), after CABG surgery improves dyspnea, effort perceived and quality of life 18 months after CABG. METHODS: Sixteen patients submitted to a CABG, were randomized to a control group (n=8) or IS+EPAP group (n=8). The protocol of IS+EPAP was applied in the immediate postoperative period and following for more 4 weeks in the patient's home. Eighteen months after CABG, the strength of the respiratory muscle, the functional capacity, the lung function, the quality of life and the level of physical activity were evaluated. RESULTS: After six minute walk test (6-MWT), the score of the dyspnea (1.6±0.6 vs 0.6±0.3, P<0.05) and the perceived effort (13.4±1.2 vs 9.1±0.7, P<0.05) were higher in the control group, when compared with the IS+EPAP group. In quality of life evaluation, the domain related to the physical aspects limitations was better in IS+EPAP group (93.7±4.1 vs 50±17, P<0.02). CONCLUSION: Patients that were submitted to IS+EPAP present reduction of dyspnea and lower effort sensation after the 6-MWT, and also a better quality of life 18 months after CABG.

FUNDAMENTO: Pacientes que son sometidos a cirugía de revascularización del miocardio (CRM) presenta mayor riesgo de desarrollar complicaciones pulmonares, como atelectasias, neumonía y derrame pleural. Estas complicaciones pueden aumentar el tiempo de internación hospitalaria, la necesidad de recursos financieros y también se asocian con la reducción de la calidad de vida y de la capacidad funcional a largo plazo. OBJETIVO: Probar si el uso de espirometría incentivada (EI) asociada con presión positiva espiratoria en la vía aérea (EPAP), después de la CRM mejora la disnea, la sensación de esfuerzo percibido y la calidad de vida 18 meses después de la CRM. MÉTODOS: Dieciocho pacientes sometidos a CRM fueron aleatorizados para el grupo control (n=8) o para el grupo EI+EPAP (n=8). El protocolo de EI+EPAP se realizó en el período postoperatorio inmediato y durante 4 semanas más en domicilio. Dieciocho meses después de la CRM se evaluaron la fuerza de la musculatura respiratoria, la capacidad funcional, la función pulmonar, la calidad de vida y el nivel de actividad física. RESULTADOS: Después del test de caminata de seis minutos (TC6), el score para disnea (1,6 ± 0,6 vs 0,6 ± 0,3, P < 0,05) y la sensación de esfuerzo (13,4 ± 1,2 vs 9,1 ± 0,7, P < 0,05) fueron mayores en el grupo control comparado con el grupo EI+EPAP. En la evaluación de la calidad de vida, el dominio relacionado con las limitaciones en los aspectos físicos fue mejor en el grupo EI+EPAP (93,7 ± 4,1 vs 50 ± 17, P < 0,02). CONCLUSIÓN: Pacientes que realizan EI+EPAP presentan menos disnea y menor sensación de esfuerzo después del TC6 y también mejor calidad de vida 18 meses después de la CRM.