INCENTIVE SPIROMETRY PERFORMANCE - A RELIABLE INDICATOR OF PULMONARY-FUNCTION IN THE EARLY POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD AFTER LOBECTOMY

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to validate the incentive spi rometry (IS) as a simple mean to follow pulmonary function at the beds ide after lung surgery. Materials and methods: We studied prospectivel y 19 patients (16 men, 3 women; mean+/-SE age, 60+/-2.8 years) undergo ing lobectomy for lung cancer. All the patients had an obstructive pat tern with FEV(1)/FVC below 75%. Lung volumes, including functional res idual capacity (FRC) and residual volume (RV), measured using spiromet ry and the helium dilution technique, and IS were measured preoperativ ely and postoperatively at days 1, 2, 3, and 8, and at 2 months. Resul ts: Our results showed that in the postoperative period after lung res ection, IS performance was well correlated (R) during the first 8 post operative days with vital capacity (VC) (R between 0.667 and 0.870) ma inly due to the excellent correlation with the inspiratory reserve vol ume (IRV, R between 0.680 and 0.895) but was poorly correlated with ex piratory reserve volume (R below 0.340), RV (R below 0.180), and FRC ( R below 0.470). Conclusions: IS can be used as a simple mean to follow lung function, especially VC and IRV, in the postoperative period in spontaneously breathing patients. IS is noninvasive and can be perform ed repeatedly at the bedside in the intensive care setting.