Ineffective breathing pattern in cardiac postoperative patients : diagnostic accuracy study

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the accuracy of the de fi ning characteristics of ineffective breathing pattern (IBP) in postoperative cardiac patients. Methods: A diagnostic accuracy study was performed with 98 patients. Measures of sensitivity, speci fi city, 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 de fi ning characteristics for IBP, while altered chest excursion (speci fi city 97%, positive likelihood ratio 11.41%) and prolonged expiration phase (speci fi city 99%, positive likelihood ratio 42.39%) were the most speci fi c. 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.