Key result
The use of the Bartlett-Edwards Incentive Spirometer showed no beneficial effect on postoperative pulmonary complications after upper abdominal surgery.
Why the study?
Does the Bartlett-Edwards Incentive Spirometer reduce postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery?
Does the Bartlett-Edwards Incentive Spirometer reduce postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery?
The use of the Bartlett-Edwards Incentive Spirometer did not provide additional benefit over effective standard pre- and postoperative respiratory therapy in preventing pulmonary complications after upper abdominal surgery.
No benefit from incentive spirometry beyond standard care; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change postoperative protocols.
During the immediate postoperative course after upper abdominal surgery, pulmonary complications often occur, caused, inter alia, by reduced regional ventilation and by atelectases as a result of: (1) narrowing of the small peripheral bronchi, and (2) impaired respiratory function. Based on these pathophysiological mechanisms, an instrument (Bartlett-Edwards Incentive Spirometer) has been devised, which aims at giving the patient an opportunity of sustained maximal inspiration under standardized and controlled conditions. The use of this instrument has been followed by reports of a considerable reduction in postoperative pulmonary complications. In a controlled clinical investigation of the pre- and postoperative condition of the lungs, we were unable to show any beneficial effect of the instrument. In general, we have a low frequency of severe postoperative pulmonary complications, as compared with the results reported in the literature. We ascribe this to our very effective pre- and postoperative respiratory therapy.
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Lyager et al. (1979) studied Postoperative pulmonary conditions after upper abdominal surgery. Bartlett-Edwards Incentive Spirometer vs. Standard pre- and postoperative respiratory therapy was evaluated on Postoperative pulmonary complications and condition of the lungs. The use of the Bartlett-Edwards Incentive Spirometer showed no beneficial effect on postoperative pulmonary complications after upper abdominal surgery.
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