Two breathing exercise methods for breathlessness after open heart surgery
Compares two breathing exercise methods in adults recovering from open heart surgery.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Effect of Different Breathing Techniques on Dyspnea and Cardiopulmonary Parameters Among Patients After Open Heart Surgery
Key facts
- Where
- Baghdad and Karbala, IraqSee the 3 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 75 years old?
Source: NCT07591987, who can take part
Where in Iraq
- Ibn Al-Bitar Specialized Hospital for Cardiac SurgeryBaghdad, IraqTaking people
- Iraqi Center for Heart DiseasesBaghdad, IraqTaking people
- Al-Hassan Al-Mujtaba HospitalKarbala, IraqTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Baghdad
- Trial code
- NCT07591987
- Record updated
- 18 May 2026
- Original description
Open heart surgery is often associated with postoperative pulmonary complications, reduced lung expansion, dyspnea, and impaired cardiopulmonary function. Breathing exercises are commonly used after surgery to improve lung ventilation, enhance oxygenation, and support respiratory recovery. However, limited evidence is available comparing the effectiveness of segmental breathing exercises and active cycle breathing technique (ACBT) in patients after open heart surgery.Read full original descriptionShow less
Effect of Segmental Breathing Versus Active Cycle Breathing Techniques on Dyspnea and Cardiopulmonary Parameters Among Patients After Open Heart Surgery: Randomized Controlled Trial.
Open heart surgery is often associated with postoperative pulmonary complications, reduced lung expansion, dyspnea, and impaired cardiopulmonary function. Breathing exercises are commonly used after surgery to improve lung ventilation, enhance oxygenation, and support respiratory recovery. However, limited evidence is available comparing the effectiveness of segmental breathing exercises and active cycle breathing technique (ACBT) in patients after open heart surgery.
This randomized controlled trial will compare the effects of segmental breathing exercises and ACBT on dyspnea and cardiopulmonary parameters in adults undergoing open heart surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the segmental breathing exercise group, the ACBT group, or the standard care group during the postoperative period following extubation.
Cardiopulmonary parameters, including oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood pressure, as well as dyspnea severity and postoperative pulmonary complications, will be assessed before and after the interventions.
The findings of this study may help identify the most effective breathing exercise technique for improving respiratory outcomes, reducing postoperative pulmonary complications, and supporting evidence-based postoperative rehabilitation after cardiac surgery.
Inclusion: Age 18-75 years; Scheduled for elective open-heart surgery; Can understand instructions and perform Segmental breathing and Active cycle breathing techniques; Stable preoperative hemodynamic condition.
Exclusion: Emergency cardiac surgeries; Patients with pre-existing severe pulmonary disease (e.g., COPD, asthma, restrictive lung disease, Atelectasis, and Tuberculosis); Neurological disorders affecting breathing effort; Inability to provide informed consent (cognitive impairment, language barrier); Patients with rib fractures, recent thoracic trauma, or contraindications for coughing maneuvers.