Background: Thoracic surgical procedures impair respiratory function, decreasing ventilation and oxygenation and increasing the risk of acute respiratory failure and pulmonary complications. To prevent these clinical repercussions, positive airway pressure therapy is widely used to increase pulmonary ventilation, decrease muscle overload, and ensure adequate oxygenation; however, the benefit of this therapy remains unclear. Methods/design: A systematic search of the literature including PubMed, CINAHL, AMED, PsycINFO, LILACS, Scielo, Scopus, PEDro, and the Cochrane Library will identify the randomized and quasi-randomized trials that used CPAP, Bilevel, or IPPB compared with a control without intervention, a sham treatment or other lung expansion techniques following thoracic surgical procedures. From these trials, we will extract data on a predefined list of outcomes, including oxygenation, ventilation, respiratory failure, pulmonary complications, and time of resolution of the clinical condition. The methodological quality of each trial included will be assessed using the PEDro scale. The strength of the recommendations will be summarized using the GRADE scale. Meta-analyses will be performed, if appropriate. Discussion: This review aims to promote greater knowledge regarding the efficiency of the use of non-invasive positive airway pressure on recovery of respiratory function and on prevention of pulmonary complications following thoracic surgical procedures. This review could help health professionals improve the care for patients undergoing thoracic surgical procedures. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42015019004 © 2015 dos Santos and Lunardi.
