# Incentive Spirometer --- An **incentive spirometer** is a device that can be used by patients--particularly those who are admited to a hospital--to help them take full, deep breaths. This helps open up all the [[alveoli]], especially those low in the bottom lobes, which don't necessarily inflate all the way when a patient is stuck in bed and not exerting themselves. This state makes it prone for them to build up fluid in the lungs, which not only hinders good gas exchange, but can cause [[atelectasis]] or even [[pneumonia]]. Incentive spirometer use is also particularly helpful after surgery, partly because the lungs helps clear [[general anesthesia]] medications and also because you breath *very shallowly* for you when you're under. The longer the surgery, the more time fuild has a chance to build up in the lungs. A good baseline goal is to use the Incentive spirometer 10 times an hour while awake, especially during periods of inactivity. The volume goal should be challanging but achievable. You can also consult a chart like the one below. The variables are between men and women, how tall they are (i.e. how big their torso is, i.e. how big their lungs are), and age (due to decreasing elasticicty that comes with age). ![[incentive spirometer chart.png]] ## Coughing & Deep Breathing **Coughing** and **deep breathing** is a technique that can be used in conjunction with or in the absence of an incentive spirometer but which achieves the same goals. The coughs should be controlled and the patient should brace their abdomen or chest if that is where the surgery occured. Deep breathing should be in through the nose and out through the mouth. ___