Presently , the evidence does not support the use of IS for decreasing the incidence of PPCs following cardiac or upper abdominal surgery
OBJECTIVE To systematic ally review the evidence examining the use of incentive spirometry ( IS ) for the prevention of  postoperative pulmonary complications ( PPCs ) .
National survey of the usage of lung expansion modalities for the prevention and treatment of postoperative atelectasis following abdominal and thoracic surgery.
A national survey of hospitals was conducted to evaluate the usage of lung expansion maneuvers in the prevention and management of  postoperative atelectasis associated with abdominal and thoracic surgery . Equal numbers of hospitals were r and omly selected from the nine American Hospital Association regions and from bed-size groups of 50 to 200 beds , 201 to 400 beds , and greater than 400 beds .  Preoperative and postoperative prophylactic therapy was found to be similar in all groups except for a lower usage of  intermittent positive-pressure breathing ( IPPB ) in the western third of the United States compared with the central third . In the treatment of postoperative atelectasis there are significant differences in the use of  chest physical therapy  , IPPB , and  intermittent continuous positive airway pressure  based on hospital size . Objective measurements of tidal volume or inspiratory capacity as a guide to therapeutic decisions are performed more frequently in the western regions . Surgical statistics relative to the number of abdominal and surgical procedures done and the incidence of postoperative atelectasis are also presented
Presently , the evidence does not support the use of IS for decreasing the incidence of PPCs following cardiac or upper abdominal surgery
OBJECTIVE To systematic ally review the evidence examining the use of incentive spirometry ( IS ) for the prevention of  postoperative pulmonary complications ( PPCs ) .