ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) as a means of assessing and guiding pulmonary rehabilitation chest physiotherapy (CPT) in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) patients on the time to symptom improvement, cost of hospitalisation, length of stay and patient satisfaction with pulmonary rehabilitation. MethodsNinety-six patients with HAP requiring pulmonary rehabilitation were included in the study and were divided into control group and experimental group using the random number table method. Patients in both groups underwent pulmonary rehabilitation CPT in addition to clinical treatment for HAP, twice daily for 20 minutes each time. EIT was added to experimental group as a means of assessment and guidance, with dynamic review prior to treatment and real-time adjustment of treatment based on the results. The primary outcome indicator was a comparison of the change in clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) after the start of treatment in both groups, and secondary outcome indicators were a comparison of the length of HAP hospitalisation, HAP-related cost, and patient satisfaction with pulmonary rehabilitation in both groups. ResultsDuring the study, 8 patients terminated airway clearance due to the aggravation of the disease, and 1 patient referral. Finally, 43 patients in the study control group and 44 patients in the experimental group were included. There was a significant difference in CPIS between the test group and the control group on 3rd and 7th day after starting airway clearance (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, there were significant differences in the length of HAP hospitalisation, HAP-related cost, and patient satisfaction with airway clearance in the test group (P<0.01). ConclusionThe use of EIT allows real-time visual monitoring of the distribution of lung ventilation in HAP patients, thus guiding individualized pulmonary rehabilitation treatment, which can shorten the time to symptom improvement, reduce the length and cost of HAP hospitalisation and significantly improve patient satisfaction and compliance with pulmonary rehabilitation.
