Does Incentive Spirometer decrease a temp?

Nurses General Nursing

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DaFreak71

601 Posts

I found this website of a physician stating that the IS will decrease a temp. Im still researching to find more info. I think its an unlabelled use. Not sure of the mechanics behind it though. Thanks guys for your responses. And to the response of cause/effect- you have to look at the correlation values. If anyone finds any info, please let me know.

http://www.med.umich.edu/urology/patientinfo/PatientInfoPages/PatientInstructions/Ileovesicostomy.pdf

The link you provided was to a patient information flyer explaining what to expect during his/her hospital stay. The way the I/S is explained is:

"To promote complete lung expansion and prevent respiratory complications, which will affect the body temperature".

What he is saying to the lay person (the patient) is that if you develop a respiratory complication (infection) such as pneumonia you will have an increased temperature, so be sure to use the I/S to promote the lung expansion so you won't be prone to those respiratory complications. He is not asserting that the I/S is used to decrease a temperature.

Also, I don't know what you mean by "And to the response of cause and effect, you have to look at the correlation values".

Saying that I/S use decreases a temperature is no different than saying that if you deep breath every hour x 10, you won't have an infection. It is nonsensical. Nursing is suppose to be evidence based so the anecdotal stories don't carry too much weight to them.

Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.

I've seen it work when the cause of the temp is probable post-op atelectasis. I explain the why's of using it to pt's and tell them their most important job for the night is to do the IS and cough. When they see it work when I tell them their temp is down they are more likely to keep using it. If someone has abd pain or is recovering from abd surgery, hand 'em an extra pillow to hold on their tummy.

Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.
Nursing is suppose to be evidence based so the anecdotal stories don't carry too much weight to them.

When there's a lot of "anecdotal stories" that all have the same result, I do call that evidence-based and it does carry weight, especially once you see it work first hand.

crb613, BSN, RN

1,632 Posts

Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

I urge the use of IS too along w/walking.....was not sure which was responsible, but the temps do come down.

rita359

437 Posts

In my opinion IS does not actually reduce temps. Especially if you think of it like tylenol reducing temps. But yes use of an IS will help the patient use parts of the lung they may not be breathing deeply enough to be using and prevent atelectasis. It will also help bring up secretions which may be collecting in the lung due to disuse. In this way bacteria do not grow in the otherwise retained secretions and patient does not get infection and temp. Same thing with coughing and deep breathing even without cost of IS. I always instruct patients with pneumonia to do one or both to bring up secretions telling them the bacteria they expectorate I don't have to kill with antibiotics. Works on outpatient basis too. I'm sure it has kept me out of hospital several times.

platon20

268 Posts

When there's a lot of "anecdotal stories" that all have the same result, I do call that evidence-based and it does carry weight, especially once you see it work first hand.

Thats bad logic. If you go to rural Georgia you will find snake handlers who all have anecdotes about snakebites curing disease.

Anecdotes are worthless because it creates a selective memory bias.

platon20

268 Posts

You guys really need to brush up on your pathophysiology. IS has absolutely no direct effect on temperature. What it can do is decrease atelectasis, reduce chances of pneumonia, and indirectly lower temp.

Fevers are caused by IL-1 (interleukin -1, just remember the memory aid HOT T-BONE STEAK, where IL1 = fever, IL-2 = T cell activation, IL-3 = IgE, IL-4 = IgA)

IL-1 is a cytokine produced by the immune system in response to components of the bacterial cell walls found in pneumonias.

IS has absolutely nothing to do with IL-1. Pneumonias do. IS can reduce chances of pneumonia.

Lots of logical fallacies being displayed on this thread

DaFreak71

601 Posts

You guys really need to brush up on your pathophysiology. IS has absolutely no direct effect on temperature. What it can do is decrease atelectasis, reduce chances of pneumonia, and indirectly lower temp.

Fevers are caused by IL-1 (interleukin -1, just remember the memory aid HOT T-BONE STEAK, where IL1 = fever, IL-2 = T cell activation, IL-3 = IgE, IL-4 = IgA)

IL-1 is a cytokine produced by the immune system in response to components of the bacterial cell walls found in pneumonias.

IS has absolutely nothing to do with IL-1. Pneumonias do. IS can reduce chances of pneumonia.

Lots of logical fallacies being displayed on this thread

:yeahthat:

DaFreak71

601 Posts

When there's a lot of "anecdotal stories" that all have the same result, I do call that evidence-based and it does carry weight, especially once you see it work first hand.

:trout:

Editorial Team / Admin

sirI, MSN, APRN, NP

17 Articles; 44,730 Posts

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Common causes of fever include atelectasis:

POD 1-2: Wind: Atelectasis (without air) often cause fever. Reasons include being on a ventilator, inadequate sighs during surgery and (in the general surgery patient) incisional pain on deep breathing. This is treated with incentive spirometry because there is evidence that deep inspiration prevents atelectasis better than just coughing .

http://www.ijccm.org/article.asp?issn=0972-5229;year=2006;volume=10;issue=4;spage=264;epage=271;aulast=Rudra

http://www.entnet.org/education/upload/Chapter-3-Postoperative-Fevers.pdf

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/512349_9

Intracranial surgery (post-operative management/complications):

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3177.htm

KyPinkRN

283 Posts

Ive been taught that it does, but a doc told a patient that was hogwash. Ive been told by other docs to have patients do it for a temp. Ive seen it work (I think), not sure if it was the IS that did it. I know it is used to decrease risk for pneumonia, but temp? Does anyone know for sure? Thanks.

IS causes your alveoli and smaller airways to be more open...causing your breathing to be easier and more oxygen to be delivered to your cells...which in turn causes your heart to not have to work as hard... thus causing a decrease in temp.

That's not to say that IS is a cure for an infection, but it can bring down your temperature.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN

3 Articles; 10,428 Posts

Thanks, siri! Guess I shouldn't recommend Dr. Pepper for UTI's anymore :uhoh3: , but I'll continue to encourage IS as a reasonable method for reducing fevers in my post-op patients!

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