Chest Physiotherapy Fails to Prevent Postoperative Atelectasis in Children After Cardiac Surgery

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Abstract
In a prospective, randomized study, the effectiveness of chest physiotherapy (CPT) was evaluated in preventing postoperative atelectasis in children after heart surgery. Postoperative clinical variables and chest X-ray findings of atelectasis were compared in 2 groups: 19 patients receiving CPT and 25 patients not receiving CPT (NCPT). Chest physiotherapy was associated with significantly more frequent (P < 0.01) and more severe (P < 0.01) atelectasis than NCPT. Atelectasis was not significantly associated with temperature elevation, age or presence of preoperative left-to-right shunt.