Final answer:
The correct instruction for performing incentive spirometry exercises is to inhale slowly and deeply through the spirometer, which aims to detect a decrease in lung capacity or a reduction in alveoli. This breathing exercise is typically prescribed multiple times a day and should not be skipped even if the patient feels fatigued.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient performing incentive spirometry exercises after surgery should be given specific instructions to ensure they carry out the activity effectively and safely. It is critical to understand that performing these exercises correctly helps to prevent respiratory complications, such as pneumonia, especially after surgery when the risk of lung infections is higher.
The correct instruction for a patient using an incentive spirometer is:
- B. Inhale slowly and deeply through the spirometer. This practice encourages the lungs to expand fully, which can help maintain lung capacity and clear any potential obstructions, such as mucus.
In contrast, the other options provided are not recommended:
- A. Perform exercises only once a day is incorrect because these exercises are often prescribed to be done multiple times a day to ensure effectiveness.
- C. Exhale forcefully into the spirometer is incorrect because the purpose is to inhale, not exhale.
- D. Skip exercises if feeling fatigued is incorrect; although patients should be attentive to their overall health and fatigue levels, regular performance of prescribed exercises is important for recovery.
The correct use of an incentive spirometer primarily aims at detecting a b. decrease in the capacity of the lungs to hold air, and it can also reveal a d. reduction in alveoli in the lungs among other potential pulmonary issues. It is not specifically designed to detect infections of the upper respiratory tract or mucus in the nasal cavities.