Effect of reducing the radiation pneumonitis by abdominal breathing exercises in patients with chest malignant tumors

VernacularTitle:腹式呼吸锻炼降低胸部恶性肿瘤患者放射性肺炎的效果观察
Author: Meili TIAN ; Huimin GAO ; Cong YAO ; Ruijun WANG ; Wanxia YAO
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Breathing exercises; Radiation pneumonitis; Thoracic neoplasms
From: Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2015;31(17):1257-1259
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective To evaluate the prophylactic effect of abdominal breathing exercises on radiation pneumonitis in patients with chest malignant tumors.Methods 100 patients with chest malignant tumors were given radiotherapy and divided with random digit table into the exercise group and the control group with 50 patients in each group.The incidence rate of radiation pneumonitis in both groups was compared.The prophylactic effect of abdominal breathing exercises on radiation pneumonitis was evaluated.Results The incidence of radiation pneumonitis in abdominal breathing exercise group was significantly reduced [34％ (17/50) vs.56％ (28/50),Z=2.397,P＜0.05],the incidences of grade Ⅰ [22％ (11/50) vs.30％ (15/50)] and grade Ⅱ [12％ (6/50) vs.18％ (9/50)] radiation pneumonitis decreased,and no grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ radiation pneumonitis occurred.Conclusions The incidence of radiation pneumonitis in patients with chest malignant tumors treated with radiation therapy may be decreased by abdominal breathing exercises,which may be widely applied in patients treated with radiation therapy.