Comparison of two methods of postoperative pulmonary care

A new apparatus for postoperative pulmonary care was compared to one in common use. Vital capacity, a common clinical indicator of pulmonary status in the postoperative patient, was used as an index of improvement or deterioration. In patients using the device with increased dead space and expiratory pressure, there was a significantly greater increase in vital capacity than in those of the group who used blow bottles. Since increased vital capacity is indicative of improved pulmonary function, it is suggested that the use of the dead space-expiratory pressure device should result in a decreased incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications.