Ineffective breathing pattern in cardiac postoperative patients: Diagnostic accuracy study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the accuracy of the defining characteristics of ineffective breathing pattern (IBP) in postoperative cardiac patients.

METHODS

A diagnostic accuracy study was performed with 98 patients. Measures of sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the ROC curve were calculated.

RESULTS

IBP was present in 23.5% of the patients. Alterations in depth of breathing (sensitivity 96%, negative likelihood ratio 0.11%) and pursed-lip breathing (sensitivity 99%, negative likelihood ratio 0.07%) were the most sensitive defining characteristics for IBP, while altered chest excursion (specificity 97%, positive likelihood ratio 11.41%) and prolonged expiration phase (specificity 99%, positive likelihood ratio 42.39%) were the most specific.

CONCLUSION

Some clinical indicators were more related to the presence or absence of IBP than others. Knowledge of such measures can help nurses to assess patients more accurately.