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Effect of Coughing Exercises Versus Incentive Spirometry on Respiratory Outcomes and Postoperative Recovery Among Children Undergoing Cardiac Surgery
Led by University of Baghdad · Updated on 2026-05-12
99
Participants Needed
4
Research Sites
8 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This research aims to evaluate the effects of coughing exercises and incentive spirometry (IS) on lung function and recovery in children aged 6 to 18 years undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The study investigates how these breathing exercises influence postoperative respiratory outcomes, physical comfort, oxygen levels, and prevention of lung complications during recovery. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: coughing exercises, incentive spirometry, or standard postoperative care. Those in the coughing exercises group will perform supervised deep breathing and coughing techniques every 3 hours for 3 days after surgery. The incentive spirometry group will use a device to perform 15 slow, deep breaths every 3 hours for 3 days. The standard care group will receive routine medical and nursing care without additional respiratory exercises. Throughout the study, daily assessments will monitor vital signs, oxygen saturation, lung function using a respiratory function score at multiple time points, and recovery indicators such as feeding tolerance and mobility. Researchers will also track pulmonary complications, arterial blood gases, and length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit to determine which method best supports lung function and faster recovery after surgery.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Effect of Coughing Exercises Versus Incentive Spirometry on Respiratory Function and Recovery in Children After Cardiac Surgery.
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Children aged 6 to 18 years scheduled for elective cardiac surgery
- Postoperative extubation within 24 hours and clinically stable to begin respiratory therapy
- Hemodynamically stable
You will not qualify if you...
- Moderate-to-severe chronic lung disease requiring baseline oxygen therapy
- Neuromuscular disorders impairing cough or inspiratory effort
- Emergency surgery or ongoing major bleeding
- Prolonged mechanical ventilation over 72 hours or tracheostomy on admission
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Up to 24 hours
Participants undergo elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and receive standard post-operative care including extubation and stabilization.
Hospital stay for surgery and immediate recovery
Duration - 3 days after surgery
Participants perform assigned respiratory interventions or receive standard postoperative care. Those in the coughing exercises group perform structured deep breathing and coughing every 3 hours. Those in the incentive spirometry group perform slow deep inhalations using a spirometer 15 times every 3 hours. Standard care group receives usual postoperative management without additional respiratory exercises.
Multiple daily visits during hospital stay, with exercises every 3 hours for intervention groups
Duration - Up to 7 days after surgery
Participants are monitored for recovery including respiratory function, clinical parameters, ICU stay duration, and postoperative complications.
Assessments at baseline, postoperative day 1, day 7, and daily monitoring during ICU stay
Trial Site Locations
Total: 4 locations
1
Ibn Al-Bitar Specialized Hospital for Cardiac Surgery
Baghdad, Baghdad Governorate, Iraq
Actively Recruiting
2
Ibn Al-Nafis Hospital for Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery
Baghdad, Baghdad Governorate, Iraq
Actively Recruiting
3
Iraqi Center for Heart Diseases
Baghdad, Baghdad Governorate, Iraq
Actively Recruiting
4
Imam Al-Hassan Al-Mujtaba Hospital
Karbala, Karbala Governorate, Iraq
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
R
rusul khalid khadim, MSc
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
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