Premium
Impact of breathing exercises in subjects with lung cancer undergoing surgical resection: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Wang YaQing,
Liu Xin,
Jia Yong,
Xie Jiao
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1111/jocn.14696
Subject(s) - medicine , lung cancer , vital capacity , atelectasis , randomized controlled trial , pulmonary rehabilitation , meta analysis , pneumonectomy , pulmonary function testing , subgroup analysis , lung , physical therapy , rehabilitation , lung function , diffusing capacity
Aims and objectives To assess the effects of breathing exercises on postoperative pulmonary complications ( PPC s), pulmonary function, 6‐min walk distance (6 MWD ) and the length of hospital stay ( LOS ) in lung cancer patients undergoing lung surgery. Background Lung cancer patients undergoing lung resection have poor pulmonary function and multiple PPC s. Breathing exercises may improve these symptoms. Design Systematic literature review and meta‐analysis were conducted. Methods All entries to the following databases were searched up until 20 December 2017: PubMed, EMBASE Ovid, the Cochrane Central Register of Randomized Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Wanfang, Weipu and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Only randomised controlled trials ( RCT s) were included in the analysis. Results A total of sixteen articles including nine articles in Chinese language and seven articles in English met the inclusion criteria. Breathing exercises decreased PPC s, and in addition, the incidence of pneumonia and atelectasis in the postoperative subgroup was reduced. Predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (predicted FEV 1 %), predicted forced vital capacity (predicted FVC %), FVC and FEV 1 / FVC ratio had improved after breathing exercises, but the changes in FEV 1 were not statistically significant. Furthermore, the LOS was significantly decreased, but no improvements were found in 6 MWD . Conclusions The results showed that breathing exercises could improve lung function, decrease the incidence of PPC s and LOS in a sample of lung cancer patients undergoing pulmonary surgery. Relevance to clinical practice The analysis suggests that breathing exercises should be considered as a respiratory rehabilitation programme for lung cancer patients undergoing lung surgery in clinical practice.