Difference between continuous positive airway pressure via mask therapy and incentive spirometry to treat or prevent post-surgical atelectasis.

Objective: To assess the effect of early use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to treat or prevent acute atelectasis in post-operative cardiac patients particularly smokers and elderly patients.

Methods: A pilot study suggested enrolling at least 32 participants in each group to be significant. One hundred and eight patients from King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who met the inclusion criteria participated in this study conducted between March 2010 and March 2011.