Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of external diaphragm pacing combined with holistic nursing on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary function. Methods From January 2022 to December 2022, 90 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Heze Municipal Hospital were selected as the study subjects. They were divided into two groups by random number table method. The control group was given routine nursing mode, while the observation group was intervened by external diaphragm pacing combined with holistic nursing. The pulmonary function index value, incidence rate of complications, 6-minute walking distance observation index, respiratory condition and self-evaluation observation index, quality of life, oxygenation index and arterial blood gas index value, and clinical symptom regression time of the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results After nursing intervention, the indexes of lung function in the observation group improved significantly (P<0.05); in the comparison of 6-minute walking distance, the final walking distance of the observation group was much longer than that of the control group (P<0.05); from the comparison of quality of life, respiratory status, self-evaluation score, oxygenation index and arterial blood gas index, the observation group was better than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion External diaphragm pacing combined with holistic nursing can significantly improve the pulmonary function of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, reduce the incidence of complications, improve the respiratory function of patients, and shorten the rehabilitation time.

Key words: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, external diaphragm pacing, holistic nursing, lung function, complication