Does Incentive Spirometer decrease a temp?

[chenoaspirit]

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.

[SoldierNurse]

Maybe as a secondary benefit?

[Ricu]

Because hypoventilation and atelectasis are some of the most common issues plaguing the acutely ill hospital patient and predispose him/her to pneumonia, Sustained Maximal Inflation or SMI therapy is first line treatment. Incentive spirometry is a widely used patient driven modality and has been for many years. There are others too but they all basically promote lung expansion and mobilize secretions. During my career as a respiratory therapist I found that more than half of the time, the device is confusing for the patient and I was moved to just coach the deep breathing and coughing. After all, it's not mastery of the tool that gives the benefit, it's the breathing and causing the patient undue frustration is counterproductive.

R

[SoldierNurse]

Because hypoventilation and atelectasis are some of the most common issues plaguing the acutely ill hospital patient and predispose him/her to pneumonia, Sustained Maximal Inflation or SMI therapy is first line treatment. Incentive spirometry is a widely used patient driven modality and has been for many years. There are others too but they all basically promote lung expansion and mobilize secretions. During my career as a respiratory therapist I found that more than half of the time, the device is confusing for the patient and I was moved to just coach the deep breathing and coughing. After all, it's not mastery of the tool that gives the benefit, it's the breathing and causing the patient undue frustration is counterproductive.

R

Yes, however the IS provides a gauge [marker] for which the patient & nurse can use to indicate progress. Progress for the patient can further provide motivation & continued recovery... thus the IS is a very productive tool. Yet, I do agree the practice of turn/cough/deep breathing is very productive, as well.

Back to the main topic; Has anyone read evidenced based literature on the IS lowering the patient's temperature?

[BigRedNurse]

Who has time to READ, pray tell???? My line of thinking is based on clinical experience only, and yes, I have seen that it works and doesn't work; I'd say 50-50. One pt had a temp of 103, I called the Doc and he told me to get him up and walk him around the unit x3, and, lo and behold, his temp was back to normal. Gotta agree that anything expanding the lungs must work, and I promote C&DB AT LEAST once every shift!

[cassioo]

IS does work in the long run but not immediately. When I was hospitalized in Nov they would take my temp and it would be up then ask me to do the IS and take temp again immediately it doesn't work that fast.

[nurse1stik]

I haven't read anything but.... If the reason a patient is temping is that he has a big phlegm blockage it sure can work. It has helped in my 17 years for sure. Who cares about literature anyway. Medicine works best hands on...forget the papers! :houra:

[Aaron C.]

I would think it would be a case of where it would be very difficult to scientifically prove because there could be any number of reasons for the temp to go down, and using an incentive spirometer would definitely not be first on the list of treatments for an elevated temperature. So unless that was the first and only thing you did for the temp, there's little way to confirm.

I am a huge fan of an incentive spirometer though, as a proactive measure.

[SoldierNurse]

I haven't read anything but.... If the reason a patient is temping is that he has a big phlegm blockage it sure can work. It has helped in my 17 years for sure. Who cares about literature anyway. Medicine works best hands on...forget the papers! :houra:

Evidenced based practice documented in the literature is what brings validity to nursing practices & procedures.

[SoldierNurse]

Hey Ricu, outstanding post. Nice read. Healthcare is always best as a Team.