Incentive Spirometry After Bariatric Surgery: Yes or No?

Since the 1950s, deep breathing exercises have been thought to reduce postoperative pulmonary complications after abdominal operations. The incentive spirometer was designed in the 1970s to assist patients in performing appropriate deep breathing through visual feedback.¹

Incentive spirometry (IS) is used commonly after surgical procedures.² However, previous meta-analyses in 1994³ and 2001⁴ and a Cochrane review in 2014⁵ did not find a benefit to IS in preventing postoperative pulmonary complications. Still, IS is believed to be the standard of care and is included in emerging enhanced recovery pathways for bariatric surgery.⁶