| Control n = 214 | Intervention n = 218 | Adjusted RR or mean difference (95% CI) | p value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Clinical coding (ICD-10) event rates of intraoperative and non-respiratory postoperative complications | ||||
 Intraoperative complications | ||||
  Laceration | 12 (5.6%) | 22 (10%) | 1.71 (0.84 to 3.50) | 0.14 |
  Haemorrhage | 13 (6.1%) | 16 (7.3%) | 1.26 (0.61 to 2.62) | 0.53 |
 Postoperative complications—surgical | ||||
  Wound infection | 25 (12%) | 22 (10%) | 0.90 (0.52 to 1.55) | 0.70 |
  Wound dehiscence | 7 (3.3%) | 6 (2.8%) | 0.92 (0.29 to 2.89) | 0.89 |
  Anastomosis leak | 1 (0.5%) | 3 (1.4%) | 3.16 (0.26 to 37.5) | 0.36 |
 Postoperative complications—general | ||||
  Paralytic ileus | 42 (20%) | 36 (17%) | 0.87 (0.58 to 1.31) | 0.50 |
  Hypovolemia | 26 (12%) | 26 (12%) | 1.04 (0.62 to 1.75) | 0.87 |
  Delirium/altered conscious state | 25 (12%) | 21 (9.6%) | 1.01 (0.60 to 1.71) | 0.97 |
  Other infections | 24 (11%) | 18 (8.5%) | 0.84 (0.47 to 1.51) | 0.56 |
  Urinary tract infection | 18 (8.4%) | 12 (5.5%) | 0.85 (0.44 to 1.64) | 0.63 |
  Sepsis | 13 (6.1%) | 7 (3.2%) | 0.63 (0.26 to 1.57) | 0.33 |
  Acute kidney injury | 10 (4.7%) | 8 (3.7%) | 0.85 (0.33 to 2.20) | 0.74 |
  Pressure ulcer | 12 (5.6%) | 3 (1.4%) | 0.31 (0.09 to 1.09) | 0.07 |
  Cardiac | 7 (3.3%) | 10 (4.6%) | 1.72 (0.65 to 4.58) | 0.28 |
  Hypervolemia | 4 (1.9%) | 7 (3.2%) | 1.96 (0.57 to 6.71) | 0.28 |
  Deep vein thrombosis | 2 (0.9%) | 3 (1.4%) | 1.69 (0.30 to 9.60) | 0.56 |
Clinical coding (ICD-10) event rates of respiratory postoperative complications | ||||
 Coding of respiratory complications hypothesised to be preventable with breathing exercises | ||||
  Nonspecific pulmonary problema | 26 (12%) | 11 (5.0%) | 0.48 (0.24 to 0.95) | 0.03 |
  Pulmonary collapse | 21 (9.8%) | 16 (7.3%) | 0.83 (0.45 to 1.54) | 0.56 |
  Pneumonia | 19 (8.9%) | 15 (6.9%) | 0.94 (0.49 to 1.79) | 0.84 |
  Acute respiratory failure | 11 (5.1%) | 5 (2.3%) | 0.54 (0.19 to 1.49) | 0.23 |
Mean number of codes per participant | 0.36 (0.48) | 0.22 (0.41) | 0.71 (0.41 to 1.22) | 0.22 |
 Coding of respiratory complications unlikely to be preventable with breathing exercises | ||||
  Pleural effusion | 12 (5.6%) | 8 (3.7%) | 0.75 (0.31 to 1.76) | 0.50 |
  Pneumothorax | 8 (3.7%) | 12 (5.5%) | 1.42 (0.59 to 3.43) | 0.43 |
  Nonspecific pulmonary problemb | 6 (2.8%) | 11 (5.0%) | 1.74 (0.64 to 4.70) | 0.28 |
  Pulmonary emboli | 2 (0.9%) | 4 (1.4%) | 2.57 (0.47 to 14.2) | 0.28 |
Mean number of codes per participant | 0.13 (0.34) | 0.16 (0.37) | 1.30 (0.71 to 2.36) | 0.40 |