**6. Objectives**

194 Aortic Valve Surgery






plegic limbs for basic hygiene and begin to resume everyday activities.

compression stockings are used for patients at high risk of developing this.

reactive and altered alveolar surfactant.

stretching and functional postures.

the incontinence.

Fig. 5. Postural night splint

The typical respiratory pattern of patients undergoing median sternotomy is: low tidal volume, high respiratory rate, absence of sighing, restrictive pattern [reduced vital capacity, reduced inspiratory capacity and reduced functional residual capacity produced by both anesthesia (18%) and decubitus (30%)]. Apart from altering the exchange of gases, it is also beneficial in that there are cases where there is aspiration as this decreases mucociliary activity, decreases cough reflex, and produces a hyper-

