Use of Disposable Spirometer for Recovery of Pulmonary Function

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill150 enrolled

Overview

We hypothesize that the addition of modified incentive spirometry to standard postoperative chest physiotherapy will be associated with faster return to baseline/predicted pulmonary function and fewer postoperative pulmonary complications in patients following laparotomy.

The primary objective of this study is to determine how quickly patients' peak expiratory flow measurement returns to baseline or predicted values following laparotomy with or without the assistance of modified incentive spirometry. The secondary objective is to assess the effectiveness of modified incentive spirometry in preventing postoperative pulmonary complications in patients following laparotomy. Specifically, this study will track length of stay, mortality, and evidence of pulmonary infection in both treatment and non-treatment arms.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

150

Conditions

Postoperative Complications

Interventions

Incentive SpirometryDEVICE

Patients will be provided with plastic, disposable incentive spirometers postoperatively

Postoperative chest physiotherapyOTHER

Patients will be given routine postoperative chest physiotherapy instruction by nursing staff

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients who undergo laparotomy at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Malawi Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with known pre-existing pulmonary disease * Pregnant women * Patients who cannot perform maximal expiration for measurement of peak expiratory flow meter because of inability to understand or follow directions and demonstrations * Patients with terminal cancer or illness with life-expectancy less than 1 month * Patients with burn injuries * Patients with illness requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation or postoperative ICU admission * Patients who require additional operations during the course of their hospital stay

Locations (1)

Kamuzu Central Hospital

Lilongwe, Malawi

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Return to baseline or predicted pulmonary function

Return to baseline/predicted pulmonary function based on peak expiratory flow measurement. Postoperative measurement will be compared to preoperative measurement (for elective cases) or age-predicted measurement (for emergency cases)

Time frame: postoperative course up to discharge

Secondary Outcomes

Incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications

We will measure length of hospital course, mortality, and incidence of pneumonia, pleural effusion, or other postoperative pulmonary complication based on clinical diagnosis and available radiological studies

Time frame: postoperative course until discharge

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.