CARDIOPULMONARY OUTCOMES FOLLOWING EARLY VS. DELAYED MOBILIZATION AFTER CARDIAC SURGERY

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications remain a significant concern following cardiac surgery, often prolonging hospital stay and impairing recovery. Early mobilization has been suggested as a beneficial intervention; however, its comparative efficacy against delayed physiotherapy in the context of regional healthcare systems like Punjab, Pakistan, has not been fully explored. Objective: To compare the effects of early versus delayed physiotherapy initiation on pulmonary function and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Methods: A 12-month, randomized controlled trial was conducted across three tertiary hospitals in Punjab. A total of 120 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were randomly assigned into two groups: early mobilization (within 24–48 hours post-surgery) and delayed mobilization (after 72 hours). Pulmonary outcomes were measured using spirometry (FVC, FEV₁, PEFR) on postoperative days 3 and 7. Hospital stay was recorded in days. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Patients in the early mobilization group demonstrated significantly higher pulmonary function on both day 3 and day 7 postoperatively (FVC: 2.7 ± 0.4 L vs. 2.3 ± 0.3 L; PEFR: 360 ± 42 L/min vs. 310 ± 37 L/min). The average hospital stay was also notably shorter (6.8 ± 1.1 days vs. 8.4 ± 1.3 days; p<0.05). No adverse events were reported in either group related to mobilization. Conclusion: Early mobilization significantly enhances postoperative pulmonary recovery and reduces hospital stay in cardiac surgery patients. Integrating early physiotherapy into routine postoperative care in Punjab’s hospitals can optimize recovery outcomes and healthcare resource use.