The Incentive Inspirometer is a device used with the objective of increasing / recovering lung volume; favoring the drainage of secretions and improving gas exchange. It is commonly used to treat and prevent perioperative pulmonary complications, but can be useful on many other occasions.
Its main function is to encourage the patient to take long, slow, deep breaths guided by visual feed-back, thus improving lung capacity.
There are 2 types of devices:
1- Flow Oriented Inspirometers: These are still widely used today, although they are not the most suitable for lung volume recovery. They encourage high inspiratory flows, but are not associated with high inspiratory volumes.
2- Flow and volume oriented Inspirometers: These devices indicate the amount of air volume that the patient can inspire. Scientific evidence suggests this device as the device of choice (1).
The performance of the Incentive Inspirometer is recommended in conjunction with other respiratory techniques. It should be performed under the guidance of a physiotherapist.
How is it used?
- Perform an exhalation
- Seal the mouthpiece with the mouth
- Breathe in slowly and as deeply as possible.
- Apnea from 3 to 5 seconds
- Afterwards, perform an active recovery by normal ventilation
It is strongly recommended not to exhaust the patient and to rest after each attempt for the time necessary for the muscles to recover (about 2 minutes).
This respiratory technique should not be performed if the patient presents fever, cough and/or respiratory distress. It could be useful for people confined to home and/or in the COVID 19 home recovery phase; i.e., as long as it has produced resolution of the clinical picture; and if the responsible physician prescribes it.
(1) Restrepo et al. Incentive Spirometry: 2011. AARC Clinical Practice Guideline. Respiratory Care.
