Targeting physiotherapy resources - evaluation of the southampton physiotherapy post-operative screening tool (sppost)

Introduction The benefit and necessity for prophylactic physiotherapy post operatively remains unclear [1]. Combined with an increased demand on resources, scores to identify those patients who would most benefit are being increasingly used. The SPPOST is a tool to identify patients who are at high risk of developing post-operative pulmonary complications (PPC’s). A previous trial of its implementation demonstrated physiotherapy to be safely withdrawn from 46% of post-operative patients with minimal risk [2].