Recovery after lung surgery

Unfortunately, lung surgeries are most often associated with extremely serious diseases, therefore, they require wide access and a large amount of intervention. Therefore, they are quite traumatic and often end with the removal of the affected area of ​​the lung tissue. In this regard, one of the most important functions, the respiratory function, is disturbed. Therefore, rehabilitation after lung surgery is not an easy task.

However, you should not despair. Of course, the recovery will be long and the patient will have to make a lot of efforts, but the worst and most dangerous is already behind. And systematic work on oneself can significantly improve the well-being and quality of life of such people. Of course, after a lung operation, rehabilitation will not happen instantly, however, this process will certainly give results with regular exercises.

What happens to the body after the intervention

Due to the fact that during the intervention, the lungs and the entire body experience severe stress, after it their function will be reduced, which will lead to chronic oxygen deficiency, which is referred to as hypoxia.

Because of this, the functions of other organs and systems are reduced. The respiratory system itself is also under attack - due to exhaustion and stress, inflammatory processes, traumatic agents and various chemicals, its barrier function is reduced. Therefore, severe postoperative pneumonia often develops. Due to stagnation of blood in the pulmonary vessels, there is a high risk of developing thromboembolic complications.

Early postoperative period

Therefore, after lung surgery, a rehabilitation process should be started as soon as possible, the purpose of which is to combat respiratory failure, restore respiratory function and normal expansion of the remaining lung tissue. Already a day after the intervention, patients are seated in bed, and the drainage tube is removed after two to three days. After that, patients can already begin to walk around.

Even simple things like sitting and walking slowly are good exercises to start with. They allow the lungs to breathe deeply, since in this position the diaphragm drops lower. It also improves mucus flow.

Outpatient treatment of patients

Approximately two weeks after the operation, the patient is discharged from the hospital for outpatient treatment. There, he needs to regularly take a chest X-ray and be shown to the local doctor. Thanks to this, his condition will be under constant control. Radiation diagnostics will allow to determine the function and condition of all parts of the lung tissue, and in time to detect a variety of complications and diseases.

The attending physician, focusing on complaints, objective data and the results of instrumental and laboratory studies, will decide on the appointment of physiotherapy procedures, their duration and intensity. However, all patients without exception are recommended special breathing exercises.

Lifestyle changes after lung surgery

Due to the fact that patients after such operations are in conditions of hypoxia of varying degrees, and move away from the intervention, patients are advised to change their living habits in order to help their body recover. Such recommendations include:

• To give up smoking.
• Refusal to drink alcohol.
• Moderate food intake, often diet food.
• Sleep normalization.

You should not overload the digestive system with heavy food, as it takes a long time to digest and requires a lot of energy to process. Therefore, patients are asked to give up fatty, floury, smoked, overly peppery and salty foods. They are encouraged to eat moderate amounts of lean meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, and cereals. Nutrition after lung surgery should not be too plentiful.

If necessary, you should switch to fractional meals - 5-6 times a day in small portions. This is due to the fact that after anesthesia, the intestines recover for a long time, so such patients are prone to various digestive disorders, flatulence and constipation. Therefore, nutrition after lung surgery is an important element of rehabilitation.

It should also be taken into account that these patients are very susceptible to infectious diseases of the respiratory system. Moreover, they pose a much more serious threat to them, since their immunity is usually weakened. Therefore, recovery after lung surgery should take this factor into account. Patients should avoid drafts, prolonged exposure to cold, damp or stale air.

Patients are advised to avoid excessive stress and violent shocks. Sleep should also be normalized, as long-term insomnia exhausts the body and adversely affects well-being.

It is very important that patients also carefully monitor their health and control their well-being. Particular attention should be paid to the level of blood pressure and heart health. Indeed, after lung surgery, even a small heart failure can lead to the development of pulmonary edema and deterioration of the patient's well-being. Therefore, patients with arterial hypertension or other chronic heart diseases should visit a cardiologist and regularly take their prescribed medications and control their blood pressure levels.  

Gymnastic exercises for patients

Rehabilitation after lung surgery should include a set of special exercises that help normalize the drainage of the bronchi and increase ventilation of the lung tissue, thereby increasing blood oxygenation.

Special breathing exercises after lung surgery are performed every day for 3-6 repetitions for several months. The exact duration depends on the condition of the patient, however, it is not recommended to abandon it for good. It is better to simply reduce the intensity - in the future, patients are advised to perform 1-2 repetitions per day for preventive purposes.

Breathing exercises after lung surgery can be started already in the early postoperative period - even with bed rest, patients are advised to take deep, "diaphragmatic" breaths and exhalations, thereby increasing the expansion of the lung tissue. Some doctors recommend that bedridden patients inflate balloons, however, this should be done with caution.

It is also useful to make active movements with arms and legs within the bed. This activates blood flow and unloads the pulmonary circulation, reducing the risk of thrombosis and edema. Patients are shown massage of the chest and back. After the patient begins to stand up, you can begin to perform short 10-minute exercises, eventually moving to 20-minute ones. Patients are advised to roll over on their side and imitate walking with their feet.

The first exercise - hands should be spread apart in such a way that the shoulder blades close as much as possible. In this position, you should perform a series of deep and calm breaths and exhalations. Breathe from your chest, not your stomach. Rehabilitation after lung removal should take place under the guidance of a doctor. At home, patients can exercise on their own, also using light dumbbells and a gymnastic wall.

You can use a gymnastic stick. With straight arms, it should be lifted, holding at its ends and while breathing in. When exhaling, the stick should be lowered. Modification of the exercise - when lifting the stick, turn the body to the side simultaneously with inhalation. You can use the ball. The patient lowers himself, puts the ball on the floor, straightens up and takes a breath. Then repeats in reverse order.

Another exercise - when raising the leg and bending it at the knee, you should inhale, while unbending and lowering to the ground - exhale. Change legs alternately. Thus, the work of several muscle groups is achieved at once, blood circulation and respiration are improved.

Patients wondering how to recover from lung surgery may also be advised to do regular daily exercise. This set of exercises is great for “breathing” the lungs, while being free from excessive physical exertion and safe for the heart.