cardiovascular and pulmonary physiotherapy cardiovascular and pulmonary physiotherapy physiotherapists treating patients following uncomplicated coronary artery bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft surgery, or cabg) surgery continue to use interventions such as deep breathing exercises that are not supported by best available evidence. standardised guidelines may be required to better match clinical practice with current literature. diseases and conditions treated cystic fibrosis cystic fibrosis (cf), also known as mucoviscidosis, is a genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs, but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and intestines. major advances over the past few years in the management of cystic fibrosis (cf) have resulted in dramatic improvements in longevity and quality of life for many patients. however, respiratory dysfunction remains responsible for much of the morbidity and mortality associated with the disorder. physiotherapy has long played an important role in the respiratory management of the disease, and has had to adapt to the changes in disease pattern from infancy to adulthood. the role of the physiotherapist is not limited to airway clearance, but also includes encouragement and advice regarding exercise, posture and mobility, inhalation therapy and, in the later stages of the disease process, non-invasive respiratory support. it is generally felt that the use of chest physiotherapy in cf has lacked good scientific basis, and the current call for evidence-based medicine requires physiotherapists to scrutinize their practice closely. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) is a type of obstructive lung disease characterized by chronically poor airflow. it typically worsens over time. the main symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, and excessive mucus production. as copd gets worse, shortness of breath worsens making eating, exercising or breathing much more difficult. deep vein thrombosis deep vein thrombosis (dvt), or deep venous thrombosis, is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) within a deep vein, most commonly the legs. nonspecific signs may include pain, swelling, redness, warmness, and engorged superficial veins. pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening complication, is caused by the detachment (embolization) of a clot that travels to the lungs. together, dvt and pulmonary embolism constitute a single disease process known as venous thromboembolism. techniques