This leaflet is available at the

Patient Information for the

following locations Gloucestershire Health Community
Cheltenham General Hospital
08454 223040
Cirencester Hospital 01285 884583

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Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

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08454 228535

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Moore Cottage Hospital Bourton-on-the-

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Water 01451 823723
Post operative

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Moreton District Hospital 01608 812618
breathing exercises

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St. Paul’s Medical Centre 01242 215037

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Tewkesbury Hospital 01684 853933
Winchcombe Hospital 01242 605203

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on
GHP10334_06_06
Author: Physiotherapy
Review due: June 2009
Post-operative breathing
exercises
This leaflet explains the things you can do
after your operation to help reduce the
effects of the anaesthetic, control sickness
and help prevent a chest infection.
Breathing exercises
Do the following deep breathing exercises
while lying, or sitting as upright as
possible in bed or in a chair.
1. Relax your shoulders and upper chest.
Mobility
An upright position is better for your chest
than lying flat.
Whilst in bed try to regularly move your
arms and legs and change your position.

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2. Take a deep breath in (through your Getting up and around is very important
It is important that you get up and move nose, if possible) to fill the bottom of and you should be sitting out of bed and

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around as soon as possible after your your lungs. walking as soon as possible.

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operation. You should be walking short 3. Hold this breath for three seconds. If you have any questions, please ask your

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distances around the ward within a few
4. Sigh out slowly through your mouth. physiotherapist.

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days.
Take three of these deep breaths then
Your pain should be controlled enough to

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rest - more than this may make you dizzy
allow you to take deep breaths, cough and
or light-headed. Practise your breathing

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start moving around. If it is not, tell your
exercises every hour. You can start as soon
nurse, physiotherapist or a member of the
as you come round after your operation.
medical staff.

Coughing

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It is important that you can cough so that
you can clear any phlegm. When you need

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to cough it will be more comfortable to:

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1. Bend your knees up if lying or lean
forwards if sitting.
2. Support your wound firmly with your
hands, pillow or rolled up towel and
cough strongly to clear any phlegm.