INCENTIVE SPIROMETRY

⚫ An incentive spirometer
helps increase lung
volume and promotes
inflation of the alveoli. It
is also referred to as
Sustained Maximal
Inspiration Devices
(SMI’s).
 INDICATION
1. For pulmonary function testing.
2. To check capacity of lung volume
3. Lung illness such as pneumonia
4. To keep lungs healthy after
surgery
5. Used to diagnosed asthma, COPD,
and other conditions that affect
breathing.
Purposes:
1) To improve pulmonary ventilation

2) To counteract the effects of

anesthesia or hypoventilation

3) To loosen respiratory secretions

4) To facilitate respiratory gaseous

exchange

5) To expand collapsed alveoli

 Procedure:
1. Assist patient into a position, preferable
sitting position in bed or a chair. This
position facilitates maximum ventilation.
2. Hold or place the spirometer in an
upright position. A tilted flow-oriented
device requires less effort to raise the
balls or discs; a volume-oriented device
will not function correctly unless upright.
Set the volume goal indicator on the
spirometer.
3. Exhale normally.
 Procedure:
4. Seal the lips tightly around the
mouthpiece to create a seal.
5. Take in a slow, deep breath to elevate
the balls or cylinder, and then hold the
breath for two seconds initially,
increasing to six seconds (optimum), to
keep the balls or cylinder elevated if
possible. The patient can observe
progress toward the goal by watching
the balls or diaphragm of spirometer
elevate or lights go on (depending on
equipment used).
 Procedure:
6. For a flow-oriented device, avoid brisk,
low-volume breaths that snap the balls to
the top of the chamber. Greater lung
expansion is achieved with a very slow
inspiration than with a brisk, shallow
breath, eventhough it may not elevate the
balls or keep them elevated while the
patient holds his/her breath. Sustained
elevation of the balls or cylinder ensures
adequate ventilation of the alveoli (lung air
sacs).
7. If the patient has difficulty breathing only
through the mouth, a nose clip can be
used.
 Procedure:
8. Remove the mouthpiece and exhale
normally.
9. Instruct the patient to cough after the
incentive effort. Deep ventilation may
loosen secretions, and coughing can
facilitate their removal.
10. Encourage patient to relax and take
several normal breaths before using the
spirometer again.
Procedure:
11. Repeat the procedure several times
and then 4 or 5 times hourly while
awake. Practice increases inspiratory
volume, maintain alveolar ventilation,
and prevents atelectasis (collapse of
the air sacs).
12. Provide comfort with the patient.
13. Do aftercare.
14. Clean the mouthpiece with water and
shake it dry.
15. Document.
⚫ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O-Za
wtb32o