A Comprehensive Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for the Management of Posttuberculosis Pneumothorax: A Case Study

Abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a contagious disease of the lung caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease is curable and preventable, but its sequelae induce structural lung damage, physiological dysfunction resulting in disability, respiratory distress, and decreased exercise capacity affecting ADLs. Pneumothorax is considered to be a major complication of TB among all the known sequelae. In the present case, the patient complained of moderate dyspnea, chest pressure, and chest pain. Based on chest radiography and a previous diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, the patient was diagnosed with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP). The pneumothorax was relieved by medical intervention, i.e. by intercostal drainage, but our goal was to increase the ventilation and oxygenation of the lungs, improve airways hygiene, improve the exercise tolerance and minimize the work of breathing so that the patient can go back to his normal day-to-day activities without any trouble. A comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation plan was structured to suit the patient's goal and was implemented and routinely followed for 1 month. It included a range of interventions like breathing exercises, airway clearance techniques, physical mobility exercises, and posture retraining. The patient demonstrated significant functional improvement in aerobic capacity, endurance, exercise tolerance capacity, and increased shoulder joint mobility. In the present case, it has also been validated that medical management anchored with Pulmonary Rehabilitation will help in gaining better outcomes.

Needle Aspiration in Tuberculosis-Associated Secondary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

“…Other studies stated that pulmonary rehabilitation in pneumothorax patients can reduce the duration of hospitalization. 18,19 Segmental breathing exercises, thoracic expansion exercises, and pursed lip breathing techniques can reduce tightness, increase thoracic expansion, and restore lung function. [18][19][20] In this case, the patient improved, and there were no signs of recurrent pneumothorax for up to 3 months afterwards.…”

“…18,19 Segmental breathing exercises, thoracic expansion exercises, and pursed lip breathing techniques can reduce tightness, increase thoracic expansion, and restore lung function. [18][19][20] In this case, the patient improved, and there were no signs of recurrent pneumothorax for up to 3 months afterwards. Therapy response to anti-TB drugs was good, proven by decreased symptoms and increased body weight.…”

Effect of Dance Movement Therapy on Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy: A Pre-post Intervention Study

“…Application of DMT in group therapy helps to reduce the CRF in breast cancer patients [9]. Previous research showed that a brief DMT intervention over the course of RT would benefit the patients by buffering their treatment-related symptoms while the symptoms would worsen in women who did not receive DMT [10,11].…”