Incentive Spirometry

Why is this important after surgery?

Breathing Exercises

after Surgery

What is an incentive spirometer for?

An incentive spirometer teaches patients how to deep breathe because when using properly, your breaths will mimic natural sighing and yawning and encourage you to take slow, deep breaths. It examines the health of your lungs by measuring inspiratory volume and showing how well you are filling your lungs with each breath. The incentive spirometer is used in hospitals to measure airflow and air volume and to exercise the lungs of patients after surgery.

Coughing and deep breathing exercises are important after surgery because they help to clear the airways and the lungs. This helps to prevent pneumonia and other postsurgical respiratory problems.

After surgery, patients do not always clear their airways normally because of the pain they experience. Therefore it is important to cough and deep breathe to clear the mucus from the airways.

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The importance of coughing and deep breathing and

incentive spirometry after surgery

Edgewood College School of Nursing

1000 Edgewood College Dr. Madison, WI 53711

http://www.edgewood.edu/Academics/SchoolofNursing.aspx

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Coughing and Deep Breathing Exercises

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Deep breathing is very important to your health. It helps open the air sacs in the lungs and keeps your lungs and airways clear. Breathing often changes and becomes shallow when you are moving very little, you are on bed rest, or you have pain after surgery. To avoid the pain experienced with coughing and deep breathing exercises you can ask for pain medication and use a pillow to splint your abdomen.

Practice this deep breathing exercise every hour.

1. Place your hand on your stomach.

2. Breathe in deeply and slowly through your nose. Push out your stomach as you breathe in.

3. Hold your breath for 3 seconds.

1. Sit up as straight as possible.

2. Hold the incentive spirometer upright.

3. Exhale normally.

4. Put your mouth around the mouthpiece and tightly seal your lips.

5. Breathe in slowly and deeply. (This will raise the piston to the top of the column- your goal is to get it in the little box.

6. Hold your breath as long as possible (at least 5 seconds) and let the piston fall.

7. Position the indicator on the outside of the column to mark your best effort. This will be your goal each time.

8. Rest for a few seconds and repeat.

9. Do this several times and hour while you are awake.

10. Try to cough a few times afterwards to clear your lungs.

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4. Breathe out all the air slowly through your mouth.

5. Repeat 3 times.

Coughing after deep breathing is also important in keeping your lungs clear. Cough several times after completing the deep breathing exercises.

1. Make sure you are sitting upright and relax your shoulders.

2. Cough from deep in the lungs, not a shallow throat cough.

How to use an Incentive Spirometer

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