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Related Concept Videos

Pulmonary Function Tests01:25

Pulmonary Function Tests

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
Pulmonary Function Tests are crucial diagnostic tools for assessing respiratory function, particularly in patients with chronic respiratory disorders. They comprehensively evaluate lung volumes, ventilatory function, breathing mechanics, diffusion, and gas exchange. These tests help diagnose pulmonary diseases and play a significant role in monitoring disease progression, evaluating disability, and assessing response to therapy.
PFTs involve using a spirometer, a...
Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis01:26

Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis

Thoracentesis(Thoracocentesis), commonly known as pleural tap, is a medical procedure where a 22 gauge needle is inserted into the pleural space, the area between the lung and chest wall. This procedure is commonly performed to diagnose or treat various respiratory disorders.
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...
Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy01:30

Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy

Endoscopy is a non-surgical medical technique used to examine a person's internal organs and vessels. This lesson will focus on two types of endoscopic studies: bronchoscopy and thoracoscopy.
Bronchoscopy
Description
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that involves direct visualization of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A flexible fiber optic or rigid bronchoscope is used to carry out the procedure. The fiber-optic bronchoscope is more frequently used due to...
Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention01:30

Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention

Nursing management of pneumonia involves promoting airway patency, facilitating rest and conserving energy, encouraging fluid intake, maintaining nutrition, and educating patients.
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
Tracheostomy Suctioning II: Procedure01:23

Tracheostomy Suctioning II: Procedure

Tracheostomy suctioning is a vital nursing procedure that involves removing secretions from the tracheostomy tube to maintain airway patency and prevent respiratory complications. Nurses need to understand the proper technique for tracheostomy suctioning to ensure patient safety and comfort. In this guide, we will outline the step-by-step process for performing tracheostomy suctioning, including preparing the sterile field, donning personal protective equipment (PPE), lubricating and connecting...
Chest Physiotherapy01:24

Chest Physiotherapy

Chest Physiotherapy (CPT) is a therapeutic technique used in respiratory care to improve ventilation, clear bronchial secretions, and enhance the efficiency of respiratory muscles. This therapy includes three primary procedures: postural drainage, percussion, and vibration. It can be performed on spontaneously breathing patients and those who are intubated and mechanically ventilated.
Purpose
CPT is primarily used for patients with excessive bronchial secretions who have difficulty clearing...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Inspiratory Muscle Training as an Adjunct to the Treatment of Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Practical Guide
04:16

Inspiratory Muscle Training as an Adjunct to the Treatment of Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Practical Guide

Published on: January 30, 2026

Incentive spirometry following thoracic surgery: what should we be doing?

Paula Agostini1, Sally Singh

  • 1Physiotherapy Department, Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Bordesley Green, Birmingham B9 5SS, UK. paula.agostini@heartofengland.nhs.uk

Physiotherapy
|July 25, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Incentive spirometry may aid lung re-expansion after thoracic surgery. Postoperative physiotherapy, with or without this device, shows effectiveness in improving patient outcomes.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Inspiratory Muscle Training as an Adjunct to the Treatment of Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Practical Guide
04:16

Inspiratory Muscle Training as an Adjunct to the Treatment of Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Practical Guide

Published on: January 30, 2026

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Thoracic surgery outcomes
  • Respiratory physiotherapy

Background:

  • Thoracic surgery can impair respiratory function and increase mortality risk.
  • Postoperative physiotherapy aims to prevent complications like atelectasis and secretion retention.
  • Incentive spirometry is a common component of postoperative respiratory care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence on incentive spirometry use in thoracic surgery.
  • To examine the physiological basis and equipment for incentive spirometry.
  • To assess its application in postoperative thoracic surgery patients.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library (1950-2008).
  • Inclusion of studies on incentive spirometry and postoperative physiotherapy in thoracic surgery.
  • Exclusion of non-scientific papers and irrelevant studies.

Main Results:

  • Initial search yielded over 200 studies across databases.
  • Four studies and one systematic review were selected for detailed review.
  • Evidence suggests incentive spirometry's potential role in lung re-expansion.

Conclusions:

  • Physiological principles support incentive spirometry for lung re-expansion post-thoracic surgery.
  • Postoperative physiotherapy, with or without incentive spirometry, appears effective.
  • Further research is needed due to sparse literature on specific regimes.