Incentive Spirometer in Liver Transplant Recipients (LT)

Cairo University (CU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Liver Transplant Disorder

Treatments: Device: Incentive Spirometry

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07318766

HS000132

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluated the effect of adjunctive incentive spirometer on arterial blood gases (ABGs) and early postoperative recovery in liver transplant recipients.

Full description

In this prospective , randomized study, 40 adults undergoing living-donor liver transplantation (LT) were assigned to standard post-transplant mobilization and breathing exercises alone (n=20) or standard exercises plus structured IS training (n=20). Arterial blood gases ABG parameters (pH, PO₂, PCO₂, HCO₃-, SpO₂) were measured at baseline and on postoperative days 1-3. Linear mixed-effects models assessed group differences in ABG trajectories; slope analyses quantified decline and recovery phases. Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS) and Post-operative pulmonary complications incidence.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. age between 18 and 65 years,
2. scheduled to undergo Living Donor Liver Transplant (LDLT) as recipients
3. able to understand and follow instructions for incentive spirometry use

Exclusion criteria

1. multiorgan transplantation
2. moderate-to-severe pleural effusion at baseline
3. persistent elevation in renal function tests
4. history of bleeding esophageal varices within the preceding month
5. multicentric hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
6. active smoking
7. decompensated cardiac disease
8. alcoholic hepatitis as the primary etiology
9. cognitive impairment or blindness precluding participation in the rehabilitation protocol.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

mobilization and breathing exercises alone

No Intervention group

Description:

Patients in the control group received standard post-transplant mobilization and breathing exercises as per institutional protocol. This included early mobilization, active limb exercises, and deep breathing exercises without the use of an intensive spirometry (IS) device. The exercise regimen was initiated on the first post-operative day and continued throughout the hospital stay.

Incentive Spirometery plus standard exercises

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients in the intervention group received structured training on Incentive spirometry (IS) use commencing on the first post-operative day. A tri-flow volumetric IS device was utilized

Treatment:

Device: Incentive Spirometry