Incentive Spirometer Teaching PDF

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Incentive Spirometer Teaching

The reason for the use of the incentive spirometer is that during surgery, while under anesthesia, the regular breathing pattern is altered and with that being altered the amount of pressure in the lungs and the absorption of oxygen (as well as other gases) is also altered. This causes some of the tiny air sacs inside of the lung to collapse, known as atelectasis. The incentive spirometer works the lungs to reinflate these alveoli-the tiny air sacs- and to rebuild the strength of the lungs. The lungs need to be working at their optimum level of function so that oxygen that is getting into the lungs can be absorbed by the inflated air sacs, and therefore into the body to help with healing and recovery time.

Assess for pain and provide adequate care related to pain assessment before teaching. Instruct to place a pillow over abdomen if relevant, to provide counter pressure to any wounds/incisions so as to minimize discomfort through deep breathing/coughing. How to Use: 1. A sliding indicator may be placed against a marked number, to use as a goal for how deeply the breath should be. If a set number goal is not ordered, set this number after the first session to use as a goal to go further than the original first session. 2. Sit up on the edge of the bed or sit up as comfortably as possible. 3. Exhale, breathing out, as normal. 4. Place the mouthpiece of the spirometer in your mouth using your lips to create a seal. 5. Inhale, breathing in, slowly. Watch the piston piece rise through the gauged numbers as you breath in. On the side of the spirometer where a small ball rises and falls-keep this within the middle range. We don’t want the ball to rise to the top (meaning that the breath is too fast) or to stay at the bottom (indicating that the breath is too slow.) We want the breath to be a steady pace to be as effective as possible. 6. Once you have breathed in as deeply as possible, hold that breath for 3-6 seconds. 7. Exhale slowly. 8. Repeat for 10 breaths, every 1-2 hours, or as ordered. 9. Encourage coughing if felt necessary during the use of the spirometer, and after the 10 sessions, again splinting the abdomen if necessary for minimizing discomfort.

Resources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atelectasis/symptoms-causes/syc-20369684 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000451.htm Berman, A and Snyder, S. Skills in Clinical Nursing page 579-580...