Randomized Controlled Trial of Physiotherapy for Postoperative Pulmonary Complications

This assessment of routine postoperative chest physiotherapy would indicate that such practice is beneficial in contradistinction to the findings of other investigators in which its value was not proved. The authors are to be commended for dividing pulmonary complications between atelectasis and pulmonary infection and not simply lumping them together. Fewer infections were seen in the study group, indicating that the severity of pulmonary complications is decreased by chest physiotherapy. Interestingly, the overall incidence of complications was not altered. Prospective randomization of patients adds to the validity of their findings. Practically speaking, any successful therapy depends on the respiratory therapist and how carefully the treatment is given, and sometimes this is done better during a clinical investigation.