Breathing exercises to reduce pain and improve recovery after transplant

Effect of Breathing Exercise on Pain and Quality of Recovery in After Transplantation Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Not applicable Interventional Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University · NCT07067580

This project will try breathing exercises with adults aged 18–65 having their first transplant to see if they reduce pain and improve early recovery.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
SponsorAnkara Yildirim Beyazıt University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Ankara)
Trial IDNCT07067580 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized, nurse‑led interventional study teaches an experimental group breathing exercises the day before elective transplant surgery and asks patients to perform one set (four breaths) each hour during the first 24 postoperative hours. Vital signs will be recorded before and after each breathing exercise, pain scores will be collected at 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours, and a recovery-quality scale will be applied on postoperative days 1 and 3. A control group will receive usual postoperative care without the structured breathing regimen. Patients who are hemodynamically unstable, have conditions that increase intra‑abdominal pressure, early complications, neurological or psychological problems, ICU transfer, or emergency/unplanned surgeries are excluded.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–65 undergoing their first elective transplant who are hemodynamically stable, able to perform the breathing maneuvers, and willing to provide informed consent.

Not a fit: Patients who are hemodynamically unstable, unable to safely perform breathing exercises, have early postoperative complications, are transferred to intensive care, or whose transplant was emergency/unplanned are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce early postoperative pain and improve the quality of recovery in the first days after transplant.

How similar studies have performed: Similar nurse‑led breathing and respiratory physiotherapy programs have shown modest improvements in postoperative pain and recovery in other surgical populations, though evidence specifically after transplantation is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients aged 18 and over, 65 and under,
* Those who have had a transplant for the first time,
* Patients who volunteer to participate in the study will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Hemodynamically unstable,
* Those who may experience physical strain during breathing exercises and have a disease that may cause increased intra-abdominal pressure (e.g. bleeding hemorrhoids, hernias of all kinds, persistent cough, severe back pain, heart diseases, high blood pressure, urinary incontinence, epilepsy),
* Those with early complications
* Those with neurological or psychological problems,
* Those who were transferred to the intensive care unit after surgery,
* Emergency and unplanned cases will be excluded from the scope of the research.

Where this trial is running

Ankara

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions TransplantationPain ManagementQuality of Recovery 40
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.