Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of position management combined with active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBT) in reducing postoperative complications in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: Between March 2022 and March 2023, 213 patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical lung cancer surgery at a tertiary hospital in Dalian were screened and randomized into three groups: control (routine nursing, n=71), experimental group 1 (routine nursing + ACBT, n=73), and experimental group 2 (routine nursing + ACBT + position management, n=69). After excluding 6 patients, 207 were analyzed (69 per group). Outcomes compared included incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, duration of chest tube placement, hospital stay, postoperative oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and nursing satisfaction. RESULTS: Postoperative pulmonary complications occurred in 23.2% (17/69) of the control group, 13.0% (9/69) of experimental group 1, and 4.3% (4/69) of experimental group 2 （X2, p=0.007）. Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant differences in SpO₂ across groups (p < 0.001), time points (p< 0.001), and their interaction (p < 0.001) on postoperative days 1-5. The average drainage tube duration was 3.74 ± 2.83 days (control),3.90 ± 3.25 days (group 1), and 2.74 ± 1.11 days (group 2) (H=10.638, p=0.005). The postoperative hospital stays were 6.42 ± 3.76 days (control), 6.39 ± 4.33 days (group 1), and 4.99 ± 1.24 days (group 2) (H=7.868, p=0.020). Satisfaction scores were 4.46 ± 0.50 (control), 4.66 ± 0.48 (group 1), and 4.87 ± 0.34 (group2) (H=26.121, p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Position management combined with active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBT) may promote respiratory secretion clearance, potentially reduce postoperative pulmonary complications, shorten chest tube duration and hospitalization, and improve oxygen saturation and patient satisfaction in lung cancer patients. These findings suggest potential clinical benefits of the combined approach in perioperative nursing for lung cancer patients; however, larger multicenter trials with longer follow-up are required to validate these results.