Background and purpose: Development of pulmonary complications after surgery is seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Some exercises are used to reduce these effects, but the results of these programs are incomplete. The aim of this study was to perform training programs and evaluation of lung function tests in two weeks before and after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).

Materials and methods: A clinical trial was performed in which 40 patients with COPD who were candidate for CABG were randomly divided into two groups (n= 20 per group). Both groups performed routine exercises. From two weeks earlier, patients in experimental group also performed some other exercises including breathing exercise, hand exercise at width of shoulder, breathing muscle exercise, and walking. Lung function tests were conducted two weeks before and after the exercises in both groups. Paired t-test and ANCOVA were applied for data analysis.

Results: According to the study, forced vital capacity values (FVC) in experimental (3.34±1.03) and control group (2.2±0.79), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁₎ in experimental (2.98±0.81) and control group (1.67±0.79) (P =0.0001), the Values of FVC / FEV₁ in experimental (90.8±10.7) and control group (73.9±19.25), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) values in experimental (5.66±2.17) and control group (3.68±1.62) (P =0.002) were significantly different in experimental group.

Conclusion: Four-week exercise therapy in patients with COPD could improve lung function after CABG.