# Clinical and functional outcomes associated with pulmonary complications after coronary artery bypass grafting

## TL;DR

This study examines how pulmonary complications after heart surgery affect patients' physical and lung function recovery over time.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the long-term functional and pulmonary impacts of postoperative complications after CABG.

## Key findings

- Patients with complications showed greater declines in 6MWT, muscle strength, and MIP compared to those without.
- Functional performance and pulmonary function were reduced at hospital discharge and six months post-surgery in complicated cases.
- Non-complicated patients experienced minor functional declines, while complicated patients had significant deterioration.

## Abstract

Coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) is a surgical treatment for coronary artery disease aiming at improving symptoms and life expectancy. Despite this, there are pulmonary and functional complications that may arise during the postoperative period due to invasive mechanical ventilation(IMV), cardiopulmonary bypass and immobility, leading to longer hospital stays.

To evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes related to pulmonary complications in the postoperative period of CABG.

Prospective cohort. During the ICU stay the patients were divided into: Non Complicated Group(NCG) who did not present complications and Complicated Group(CG) who presented complication. Functional variables were applied as the six-minute walk test(6MWT), gait speed, sit up and stand up test, Timed Up and Go, peripheral muscle strength, ventilatory, pulmonary function and Functional Independence Measure. These tests were applied preoperatively, at ICU discharge, hospital discharge and six months after surgery.

The study evaluated 90 patients, 59 in the NCG and 31 CG. In the 6MWT there was a 2%(p = 0.43) decrease in the NCG, while the decrease was 13%(p < 0.01) in the CG. In the MRC the drop was 2%(p = < 0.01) in the CNG, while in the CG the drop was 14%(p = < 0.01). In MIP the NCG had a 6%(p = 0.67) decrease, while the CG had a 16%(p = < 0.01) decrease.

Patients with postoperative complications of CABG may have reduced functional performance, muscle strength, and pulmonary function at hospital discharge and after six months.