Cardiovascular & Respiratory Physiotherapy
Department of Cardiovascular & Respiratory Physiotherapy
Excellence in Critical Care Physiotherapy, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Ventilatory Support, and
Functional Endurance Training.
Overview & Academic Scope
The Department of Cardiovascular & Respiratory Physiotherapy is a specialized clinical and academic
unit dedicated to the prevention, acute management, and long-term functional rehabilitation of patients
with cardiac, vascular, and pulmonary disorders. The department forms a vital clinical specialty across
both undergraduate (B.P.Th) and postgraduate (M.P.Th in Cardiovascular & Respiratory Physiotherapy)
curricula.
Integrating applied cardiopulmonary anatomy, respiratory physiology, critical care monitoring, and exercise science, the department trains students to handle acute life-support situations in intensive care units (ICUs) as well as structured Phase I, II, and III cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs in outpatient settings.
Integrating applied cardiopulmonary anatomy, respiratory physiology, critical care monitoring, and exercise science, the department trains students to handle acute life-support situations in intensive care units (ICUs) as well as structured Phase I, II, and III cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs in outpatient settings.
Core Academic & Clinical Domains
- Acute Critical Care & ICU Physiotherapy: Clinical posting and bed-side management across Medical ICU (MICU), Surgical ICU (SICU), Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Pediatric ICU (PICU), and Neonatal ICU (NICU); monitoring arterial blood gases (ABGs), chest X-rays, hemodynamics, and ventilator waveforms.
- Airway Clearance & Chest Physical Therapy: Practical mastery of modified postural drainage, percussion, vibration, shaking, active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBT), autogenic drainage, manual hyperinflation (MHI), endotracheal/tracheostomy suctioning, and positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy.
- Mechanical Ventilation & Weaning: Understanding non-invasive (CPAP/BiPAP) and invasive mechanical ventilation modes, positioning protocols (prone positioning for ARDS), and exercise protocols to facilitate early ventilator weaning.
- Cardiac Rehabilitation (Phases I–III): Structured rehabilitation for post-Myocardial Infarction (MI), Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI/stenting), Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), valve replacements, and heart failure management with continuous telemetry/ECG monitoring.
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Comprehensive management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Bronchial Asthma, Bronchiectasis, Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), Post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis, and cystic fibrosis.
- Exercise Testing & Functional Capacity: Conducting submaximal and maximal exercise tolerance tests, including the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) protocols, and Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE).
- Vascular Rehabilitation: Therapeutic management of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), intermittent claudication (Buerger-Allen exercises), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis, and complex lymphedema decongestive therapy.
Clinical Units & Specialized Infrastructure
The department is fully equipped with modern diagnostic and therapeutic respiratory care tools compliant with statutory and university guidelines:
Intensive Care & Bedside Respiratory Care
- Closed-circuit and open suction units, manual resuscitator bags (Ambu bags), bedside spirometers, pulse oximeters, peak flow meters, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) setups, and humidified oxygen delivery units.
Respiratory Muscle Training (RMT) Unit
- Equipped with inspiratory muscle trainers (Threshold IMT / Powerbreathe), positive expiratory pressure devices (Acapella, Flutter valve, Aerobika), and sustained maximal inspiration units (Incentive Spirometers).
Cardiopulmonary Exercise & Rehabilitation Gym
- Medical-grade motorized treadmills, cycle ergometers, recumbent cross-trainers, arm ergometers, heart rate monitors, non-invasive blood pressure monitors, emergency crash cart facilities, and oxygen backup.
Surgical & Post-Operative Ward Services
- Pre-operative patient education and post-operative mobilization for cardiothoracic surgeries, open abdominal surgeries, thoracic trauma, and organ transplantations.
Diagnostic & Functional Assessment Station
- Dedicated tracking corridor for standard 6-Minute Walk Tests, skinfold calipers, body composition analyzers, digital goniometers for chest expansion, and digital spirometry analysis.
Teaching Methodology & Research Focus
- Training combines intensive bedside clinical rounds, ICU simulator training, ABG and ECG interpretation seminars, mortality and morbidity audits, and multi-disciplinary clinical postings with pulmonology, cardiology, and cardiothoracic surgery teams. Postgraduate research covers critical illness polyneuropathy, early ICU mobility protocols, inspiratory muscle training efficacy, and pulmonary rehabilitation in occupational respiratory disorders.
