Beneficial Effects of the Novel Digital Incentive Spirometer Device and Incentive Spirometer in Patients Undergoing Open-Heart Surgery: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Background: The number of patients undergoing open-heart surgery (OHS) is persistently increasing. Additionally, postoperative pulmonary complications have been reported after OHS, and an incentive spirometer has been suggested to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications. However, no commercial incentive spirometer provides the precise inhalation volume. We developed a digital incentive spirometer (DIS) that displays the relevant data.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to explore the beneficial effects of a DIS on respiratory function in patients who underwent OHS.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was designed with 32 patients scheduled for OHS: 16 individuals each were assigned to the DIS and the flow-oriented incentive spirometer (ie, Triflow incentive spirometer) groups, respectively. The patients were requested to use the DIS and Triflow incentive spirometer 15 times/set, two sets/day, from day 1 to 5 postextubation. All participants underwent lung function and respiratory muscle strength assessments prior to OHS and on day 5 postextubation postoperatively. For comparison between and within the groups, we performed an intention-to-treat analysis with a two-way mixed analysis of variance.

Results: In both the DIS and Triflow incentive spirometer groups, pulmonary function parameters and maximal respiratory pressure were markedly reduced on day 5 postextubation when compared with those prior to OHS (P<.05). There were no significant differences in pulmonary function or respiratory muscle strength between the two groups (P>.05).

Conclusions: Pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength did not differ significantly between the DIS and Triflow incentive spirometer groups among patients who underwent OHS.