Effects of preoperative inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in obese women undergoing open bariatric surgery: Respiratory muscle strength

Introduction: Patients undergoing open bariatric surgery have an impaired lung function in the postoperative period. Aiming to attenuate these negative effects, the preoperative IMT may be an alternative. Objective: To determine whether preoperative IMT is able to attenuate the impact of surgical trauma on the respiratory muscle strength in obese women undergoing open bariatric surgery. Methods: This study is a randomized controlled trial. Thirty-two obese women (35.44±8.75 years and 41.78±3.84 kg/m2), undergoing elective open bariatric surgery were randomly assigned to receive preoperative inspiratory muscle training (IMT group) (n=15) or usual care (UC group) (n=17) 2-4 weeks before the surgery. The respiratory muscle strength was carried out by using measurement the Maximal Inspiratory and Expiratory Pressures – MIP and MEP. The patients were assessed before training, before surgery and 1 day after surgery. Results: After training, there was an increase in the MIP only in the IMT group (IMT= 93.33±23.80 to 120±20.35 vs UC= 92.94±18.63 to 91.76±20.38 cmH2O - p Conclusion: The preoperative IMT increased the inspiratory muscle strength (MIP) and attenuated the negative postoperative effects of open bariatric surgery in obese women for this variable, though not influencing the MEP.