An interventional study of Segmental Breathing Exercises and Active Cycle Breathing Technique in Dyspnea, Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction and Postoperative Respiratory Dysfunction, sponsored by University of Baghdad. Recruiting at 3 sites in Iraq. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-18.
Sponsored by University of Baghdad · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Open heart surgery is often associated with postoperative pulmonary complications, reduced lung expansion, dyspnea, and impaired cardiopulmonary function. Breathing exercises are commonly used after surgery to improve lung ventilation, enhance oxygenation, and support respiratory recovery. However, limited evidence is available comparing the effectiveness of segmental breathing exercises and active cycle breathing technique (ACBT) in patients after open heart surgery.
This randomized controlled trial will compare the effects of segmental breathing exercises and ACBT on dyspnea and cardiopulmonary parameters in adults undergoing open heart surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the segmental breathing exercise group, the ACBT group, or the standard care group during the postoperative period following extubation.
Cardiopulmonary parameters, including oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood pressure, as well as dyspnea severity and postoperative pulmonary complications, will be assessed before and after the interventions.
The findings of this study may help identify the most effective breathing exercise technique for improving respiratory outcomes, reducing postoperative pulmonary complications, and supporting evidence-based postoperative rehabilitation after cardiac surgery.
This randomized clinical trial evaluates the effects of segmental breathing exercises (SBE) and active cycle breathing technique (ACBT) on dyspnea, cardiopulmonary parameters, and postoperative pulmonary complications in adults undergoing elective open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: segmental breathing exercises group, active cycle breathing technique group, or standard care group. Patients in the intervention groups will perform the assigned breathing exercises after extubation, including sessions conducted 1 hour and 6 hours post-intervention during the early postoperative period.
Cardiopulmonary parameters, including oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood pressure parameters, will be monitored throughout hospitalization. Dyspnea and postoperative pulmonary complications, including atelectasis and pneumonia, will also be assessed.
The primary purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of breathing exercise interventions in improving postoperative respiratory outcomes and reducing pulmonary complications after cardiac surgery. The study also aims to support evidence-based postoperative rehabilitation practices for healthcare professionals caring for patients after open-heart surgery.
894 studies on the registry are indexed under Dyspnea; 189 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 99 is above the median of 50 across 587 interventional studies indexed under Dyspnea.
Browse Dyspnea studies →University of Baghdad is the lead sponsor of 170 studies on the registry; 69 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients receive segmental breathing exercises after open heart surgery to improve lung expansion and cardiopulmonary function
Behavioral: Segmental Breathing Exercises
Patients receive active cycle breathing technique (ACBT) after open heart surgery to enhance airway clearance and improve respiratory function.
Behavioral: Active Cycle Breathing Technique
Patients receive routine postoperative care without structured breathing exercise interventions.
Other: Standard postoperative care
Deep breathing exercises focusing on specific lung segments to improve ventilation, lung expansion, and oxygenation in post open heart surgery patients.
A combination of breathing control, thoracic expansion exercises, and forced expiration technique to improve airway clearance and lung function.
Participants will receive routine postoperative care according to institutional protocols following cardiac surgery. This includes standard medical and nursing management such as oxygen therapy, pain control, monitoring of vital signs, and mobilization as tolerated, without additional structured respiratory physiotherapy interventions.
Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)
Assessment of peripheral oxygen saturation in patients after open heart surgery undergoing breathing exercises (segmental breathing exercises or active cycle breathing technique)
Time frame: Measurements will be obtained at baseline pre-intervention, 1 hour post-intervention, and 6 hours post-intervention during hospital stay
Respiratory Rate
Assessment of respiratory rate in patients after open heart surgery undergoing breathing exercises.
Time frame: Measurements will be obtained at baseline pre-intervention,1 hour post-intervention, and 6 hours post-intervention
Heart Rate
Assessment of heart rate in patients after open heart surgery undergoing breathing exercises.
Time frame: Measurements will be obtained at baseline pre-intervention, 1 hour post-intervention, and 6 hours post-intervention during hospital stay
Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure, and Pulse Pressure
Assessment of Systolic Blood Pressure Pulse Pressure, and Diastolic Blood Pressure in patients after open heart surgery undergoing breathing exercises.
Time frame: Measurements will be obtained at baseline pre-intervention, 1 hour post-intervention, and 6 hours post-intervention during hospital stay
Dyspnea Index
Assessment of dyspnea index in patients after open heart surgery using a standardized dyspnea scale contain ten questions for score 0 = Never. 1 = Almost never. 2 = Sometimes. 3 = Almost always. 4 = Always , the higher number is the worst that to evaluate changes before interventions and after implementation of segmental breathing exercises or active cycle breathing techniques.
Time frame: measur at baseline pre-intervention and post-intervention after 6 hours.
Mean Arterial Pressure
Assessment of Mean Arterial Pressure in patients after open heart surgery undergoing breathing exercises.
Time frame: Measurements will be obtained at baseline pre-intervention, 1 hour post-intervention, and 6 hours post-intervention during hospital stay
Plan to share: No — IPD will not be shared due to patient privacy and confidentiality concerns.
Started Jan 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jul 2026, 6 months after the start.
Of 266 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Dyspnea, half reached primary completion within 13 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 28. This study's planned 6 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 282 studies reached it within 13 months; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 28.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.