Incentive spirometry is a technique used to keep lungs healthy after surgery or for chronic lung conditions. It involves using a medical device to set and meet goals for lung function, exercising the lungs and preventing complications. Patients are encouraged to continue using it at home and to contact a physician if they notice changes in lung function. The device should be washed and not shared between patients.
Incentive spirometry is a clinical technique that is used to help keep the lungs in good condition after surgery or when a patient has a chronic lung condition. It involves the use of an incentive spirometer, a medical device that provides feedback as a patient breathes so the patient can set and meet goals for lung function. People preparing for surgery can be educated about incentive spirometry so they can start immediately after surgery, and people with conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma can be educated about incentive spirometry in so they can use it as part of their disease management problem.
The incentive spirometer includes a breathing tube and mouthpiece connected to a pressure gauge. The patient breathes deeply into the mouthpiece, causing the pressure gauge to rise, then holds their breath for at least three seconds before exhaling. This is repeated several times and runs several times every hour. Patients are usually given a target on the gauge to aim for, and their performance on the incentive spirometer can be marked in their graphs so their doctors can monitor their lung function.
Using an incentive spirometer exercises the lungs and encourages the alveoli in the lungs to inflate fully. Patients can encounter lung problems very quickly after surgery without well-trained lungs, and incentive spirometry is designed to prevent this. Any surgery where someone is under general anesthesia for a long time or where the lungs are being operated on requires incentive spirometry along with monitoring of breath sounds to confirm that the lungs are working well, and this starts as soon as possible after the patient wakes up and goes to the recovery room.
After being sent home, patients are generally encouraged to continue using incentive spirometry while recovering at home and to contact a physician if they notice changes in lung function or other problems that could indicate surgical complications are occurring. Surgeons would much rather talk to their patients about minor problems than make a patient wait too long because she or he “doesn’t want to be a bother” and people shouldn’t hesitate to call if they have any concerns.
After using an incentive spirometer, it is important to wash it off. Some come with disposable mouthpieces that should be changed periodically as they are usually not designed to be cleaned. Because the device cannot be sterilized, it is not designed to be shared between patients.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
