Goal. Analyze the role of the physical therapist in postoperative cardiac surgery and its operations to minimize further complications . Method. 34 articles , originally published in Portuguese and in English, the past 10 years , using the MEDLINE ( National Library of Medicine ) , SciELO and Cochrane Library databases were found . Excluding that used patients with unstable angina, decompensated congestive heart failure , ventricular arrhythmia , uncontrolled high blood pressure ( > 140/90mm/Hg ) , myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident ( CVA) , high-grade atrioventricular block or bronchoconstriction per year . Results. Despite the variables are not present in a homogeneous way , the practice of physical therapy was shown to be relevant to the increased volume and lung capacity , reduced ventilatory vestments , clinical improvement of dyspnea , blood gas analysis and muscle strength . Conclusion. The physiotherapy techniques proved to be of utmost importance to improve the situation of pulmonary dysfunction in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery .