Development and Application of an Early Exercise Program for Open Heart Surgery Patients

Ha, Yi-Kyung; Jung, Yoen-Yi

Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing 2011;4(1):65-73.
Published online June 30, 2011.

개심술 환자를 위한 조기 운동프로그램의 개발 및 적용에 관한 연구

하이경, 정연이

¹마산대학교 간호학과
²삼성서울병원 CS실, 성균관대학교 임상간호대학원

Development and Application of an Early Exercise Program for Open Heart Surgery Patients

Yi-Kyung Ha, Yoen-Yi Jung

¹Dept. of Nursing, Masan University
²Customer Satisfaction, Samsung Medical Center, Graduate School of Clinical Nursing Science, Sungkyunkwan University

Abstract

Purpose
This study was to develop and evaluate stability and effects of an early exercise program for patients with open heart surgery.
Methods
The subjects of this study were 30 patients who had either a coronary bypass surgery or a valvular heart surgery at a tertiary hospital in Seoul. The data was collected by observation and measurement from October 1, 2004 to November 15, 2004.
Results
The early exercise program developed for this study consisted of range of motion exercise and walking. Intensity of walking was 1~3 METs and increased progressively to daily target distance. During exercise, the subjects were monitored heart rate, blood pressure and RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion). The mean FIM (Functional Independent Measurements) score of subjects was significantly improved after the early exercise program. However, several complaints such as dizziness or pain were also reported. Most complaints were associated with chest tube and RPE.
Conclusion
The early exercise program can help to recover patients' physical activities after surgery, and can be applied to most patients. Patients' RPE, dizziness and pain was possible limitations, therefore, active pain control and prevention of accidents for patients would be needed.

Key Words: Exercise, Program evaluation, Cardiac surgical procedures