What is the purpose of incentive spirometry after surgery?

Incentive spirometry encourages deep breathing to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications, particularly atelectasis, which is the collapse of lung tissue from shallow breathing, pain-related splinting, and immobility after surgery. The patient takes a slow, deep breath through the mouthpiece, trying to raise the indicator to the prescribed level, holds the breath for three to five seconds to keep alveoli open, then exhales slowly. The exercise should be repeated 10 times per hour while awake. The nurse teaches proper technique preoperatively and assesses adherence postoperatively. ---