A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Two Lung Expansion Therapies After Upper Abdominal Surgery.

Background: Lung expansion therapy is often ordered after surgery to improve alveolar ventilation and reduce risks of postoperative pulmonary complications. The impact of lung expansion therapy at altering ventilation in patients who are not intubated has not been described. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in dorsal redistribution of ventilation and incidences of postoperative pulmonary complications when comparing incentive spirometry (IS) with EzPAP lung expansion therapy after upper abdominal surgery.