Why do hospitals continue use the incentive spirometer?

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In 2001 a group of researchers collected the entire database of studies regarding the incentive spirometer, and they concluded that "the evidence does not support the use of incentive spirometry for decreasing the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications following cardiac or upper abdominal surgery." In other words, it's not effective as people think it is. Why do hospitals continue use incentive spirometry?

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Specializes in SCRN.

What group conducted what research? Article, please! Otherwise this is a silly question. Quit trolling. End of discussion.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
What group conducted what research? Article, please! Otherwise this is a silly question. Quit trolling. End of discussion.

Huh...? I would actually like to learn more about this study--and a link would be helpful--but to say the question is silly and the OP is trolling is just odd.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
In 2001 a group of researchers collected the entire database of studies regarding the incentive spirometer, and they concluded that "the evidence does not support the use of incentive spirometry for decreasing the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications following cardiac or upper abdominal surgery." In other words, it's not effective as people think it is. Why do hospitals continue use incentive spirometry?

1) It's not doing any harm.

2) Unless & until something better comes along, why not use the tools you have? You could not ever convince me that routinely expanding your lungs while in the healing process is not a beneficial activity.

But yes, please do show us the research.

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Specializes in Oncology.

But they look so pretty sitting on the bedside table, or kicked under the bed on the floor, in the wrapper until discharge.

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This would seem to be something that would go without saying, but apparently not:

You should ALWAYS link the source of any research you are discussing.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Here ya go -- much more recent evidence published in JAMA this year. Results? Incentive spirometry use not recommended in post laparotomy patients.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

The study was limited to 150 patients in an African Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. IS was not recommended due to the resource constrained environment.

The mortality was 6% in the control group despite early ambulation and coughing and deep breathing techniques. I don't see this as conclusive evidence but it is useful information for working in third world countries.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
Here ya go -- much more recent evidence published in JAMA this year. Results? Incentive spirometry use not recommended in post laparotomy patients.

A single RCT with a small sample size in a single patient population in a third world country should not drive changes in practice. Only literature reviews and meta-analyses should, preferably meta-analyses. The OP referred to a literature review. I would still like to see the link to the OPs referenced study, although it is 14 years old.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Please cite your reference in proper APA style ;)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
But they look so pretty sitting on the bedside table, or kicked under the bed on the floor, in the wrapper until discharge.

This made me laugh...and it made me sad. Teaching how to use it and encouraging (i.e. nagging...I'm good at that with the IS) at each round is important. :)

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You made me laugh, Blondy!!

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