Respiratory physiotherapy in a case after thoracic window surgery for empyema with difficult cavity close

Abstract

The most accumulated evidence for respiratory rehabilitation is in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the level of evidence in respiratory surgery is also improving, but further investigation is needed. In a postoperative rehabilitation of a patient who underwent open chest window surgery (OWT) for refractory pyothorax, intensive conditioning helped the patient regain the ability to fall asleep, which had been inhibited by severe dyspnea. Continued conditioning enabled the reinforcement of exercise therapy, and continued exercise therapy with individualized exercise load settings resulted in a reduction in dyspnea and an improvement in exercise tolerance, enabling the patient to go outdoors at 3 months postoperatively. The multifaceted effects of respiratory rehabilitation were demonstrated in OWT, which is a physically and emotionally demanding procedure, and the results suggest the possibility that respiratory rehabilitation is an effective treatment strategy for respiratory surgical diseases.