Impact of Intensive Physiotherapy on Cognitive Function after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

• Main Author: Cavalcante,Elder dos Santos
• Publication Date: 2014
• Other Authors: Magario,Rosmeiri, Conforti,César Augusto, Cipriano Júnior,Gerson, Arena,Ross, Carvalho,Antonio Carlos C., Buffolo,Enio, Luna Filho,Bráulio
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia (Online)
• Download full: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0066-782X2014002300005
• topic: Myocardial Revascularization / rehabilitation; Postoperative Care; Physical Therapy Speciality

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a standard surgical option for patients with diffuse and significant arterial plaque. This procedure, however, is not free of postoperative complications, especially pulmonary and cognitive disorders. Objective: This study aimed at comparing the impact of two different physiotherapy treatment approaches on pulmonary and cognitive function of patients undergoing CABG. Methods: Neuropsychological and pulmonary function tests were applied, prior to and following CABG, to 39 patients randomized into two groups as follows: Group 1 (control) - 20 patients underwent one physiotherapy session daily; and Group 2 (intensive physiotherapy) - 19 patients underwent three physiotherapy sessions daily during the recovery phase at the hospital. Non-paired and paired Student t tests were used to compare continuous variables. Variables without normal distribution were compared between groups by using Mann-Whitney test, and, within the same group at different times, by using Wilcoxon test. The chi-square test assessed differences of categorical variables. Statistical tests with a p value ≤ 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Changes in pulmonary function were not significantly different between the groups. However, while Group 2 patients showed no decline in their neurocognitive function, Group 1 patients showed a decline in their cognitive functions (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Those results highlight the importance of physiotherapy after CABG and support the implementation of multiple sessions per day, providing patients with better psychosocial conditions and less morbidity.