Pre op incentive spirometer measurement numbers

[Bushman]

So I had my pre op meetings last Tuesday and in talking to the physiotherapist had my baseline readings noted.
I reached over 4000 ml on 3 consecutive attempts. The physiotherapist said that this was very good and that 4200 ml(My first attempt) was the highest reading she had seen in 4 years to which I replied "sure, I'm probably the first patient under 70 you've seen in 4 years ".

So I'm just curious now what types of numbers others are getting and how their numbers changed after surgery.

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Bushman - I've not heard of anyone being given pre-op spirometer tests, never mind giving numbers either pre or post op. Do you have a chest condition like asthma ? Mind you, I've got a chest condition (small airways disease) and the physio didn't do a spirometer test on me at any time pre-op or post op !

All the best for your surgery !

 

[Odie]

I was given an incentive spirometer at my pre-op visit too. I was taught how to use it and after a few practice attempts I was told my "baseline" -- though I found it took a lot more practice to develop the proper technique to record my true baseline. I don't recall my exact numbers but I do remember how pathetic was my first attempt post surgery, and how deep I had to dig to find the motivation to frequently use my incentive spirometer in those first days after surgery. It got easier to use as I watched my numbers go up -- because use of the tool was clearly helping me get my lung capacity back.

I'm really glad I was given my incentive spirometer pre-op because it gave me an opportunity to get familiar with it at home before OHS.

 

[Paleowoman]

I'm thinking it must be an American thing then becasue no sign of any spirometer here in the UK. None of the patients on the cardiac ward had one. My respiratory specialist had even written that I should have something called a 'flutter' device post surgery but I was never given one.

 

[JulienDu]

Yeah I had a Spirometer here in Canada too. Hey Bushman, are you getting that done in Edmonton or Calgary ?

 

[ejc61]

I was given a spirometer a few days before surgery to just practice. I was in the 3000's. I'll never forget this but the next day maybe 12 hours after surgery and still in ICU, the nurse gave me a spirometer to test it out. I blew a whopping 500. Her response, "that's gold". Just use it a lot and it'll get back up.

 

[Bushman]

Yeah I had a Spirometer here in Canada too. Hey Bushman, are you getting that done in Edmonton or Calgary ?

Hi Julien,
I'm getting it done in Calgary by Dr. Andrew Maitland. I notice you are up north, in Edmonton or outside somewhere?

.

 

[JulienDu]

I am an hour west of Edmonton and I got my OHS done in Edmonton at the Mazankowski heart institute by Dr Roderick Macarthur

 

[honeybunny]

I was not tested prior to surgery with Anne.

 

[AmyBL]

I was but I don't remember the score. It was given by the respiratory therapist and he said mine was "excellent." It seemed it didn't take long to get back to strong lung capacity.

 

[Superman]

I used to top that thing out. My siblings were both smokers - and I could beat them on it before I left the hospital after my first OHS. Got my sister to quit, so that was good.