Mf. Olsen et al., Chest physiotherapy does not improve the outcome in laparoscopic fundoplication and vertical-banded gastroplasty, SURG ENDOSC, 13(3), 1999, pp. 260-263
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Surgery
Journal title
SURGICAL ENDOSCOPY-ULTRASOUND AND INTERVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES
Background: Chest physiotherapy is a common practice after open reflux and
obesity surgery. It is now possible to perform fundoplication and vertical
banded gastroplasty (VBG) by the laparoscopic technique. The aim of this st
udy was to evaluate in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial whether
chest physiotherapy affects the postoperative course.
Method: A series of 40 patients underwent laparoscopic fundoplication; anot
her 40 underwent laparoscopic VBG. Twenty patients in each series received
prophylactic chest physiotherapy; the other 20 served as control patients a
nd were not given any information or training.
Results: Postoperatively, all patients had a significant reduction in respi
ratory function, measured as oxygen-saturation, forced vital capacity, and
peak expiratory flow, but the differences between the groups within each se
ries were not significant. Postoperatively, one patient in the VBG treatmen
t group had hypoxemia (SaO(2) <92%) versus two control patients. One contro
l patient developed postoperative pneumonia.
Conclusions: This study indicates that routine chest physiotherapy is not n
ecessary in patients undergoing laparoscopic upper gastrointestinal surgery
, such as fundoplication and VBG.