Your Surgery: Lung Care

After surgery, it's important to get better as quickly as you can, so you can get back to your normal activities. Following these instructions on how to care for your lungs can help you heal faster and avoid problems.

Deep breathing

Deep breathing can help open your airways, prevent fluid or mucus from building up in your lungs, and make it easier for you to breathe. "Belly breathing" can help you do this.

  • Lie on your back or prop yourself up on several pillows.
  • With one hand on your belly and the other on your chest, breathe in. Push your belly out as far as possible. You should be able to feel the hand on your belly move out, while the hand on your chest should not move.
  • When you breathe out, you should be able to feel the hand on your belly move in.
  • Take 3 to 5 deep breaths every few hours while you're awake.

Why is lung care important?

After surgery, you may not feel very good. You may feel tired. It may be hard or painful to take deep breaths or cough. But if you only take shallow breaths, mucus can build up in your lungs. This may make infections, such as pneumonia, more likely. If you practice deep breathing and coughing, you may help prevent infections.

Spirometer

You may be given an incentive spirometer to use in the hospital and to take home. This is an easy-to-use handheld device that exercises your lungs and measures how much air you can breathe in. It tells you and your doctor how well your lungs are working.

You breathe in air through a tube that is connected to a large air column containing a piston or ball. As you breathe in, the piston or ball inside the column moves up. The height of the piston or ball shows how much air you breathed in.

You may feel lightheaded when you breathe in deeply for this exercise. If you feel dizzy or feel like you're going to pass out, stop the exercise and rest.

You will be shown how to use the spirometer. After you've taken the recommended number of breaths, try to cough a few times. This will help loosen any mucus that has built up in your lungs. It will make it easier for you to breathe.

Coughing

Coughing helps you bring up mucus from the lungs. This can help prevent infections. You may feel discomfort, but coughing will not affect your incision.

  • When you cough, sit in a chair or sit up in the bed. Support yourself with pillows.
  • Lean forward a little bit. If you have an incision (cut) in your chest or belly, hold a cloth or pillow over it. This helps protect it.
  • With one hand on your belly and the other on your chest, breathe in. Keep your mouth open only a little. Push your belly out as far as possible. You should be able to feel the hand on your belly move out, while the hand on your chest should not move.
  • Cough in three short breaths.
  • Keep your mouth open and breathe in quickly. As soon as you finish breathing in, cough forcefully once or twice.

Walk for your lungs

Activity such as walking is really the best way to help your lungs. When you walk, you use your lungs. This helps clear them out and prevent infection.

When to call for help

  • Call 911 if you have severe trouble breathing.
  • Call your doctor now if you have difficulty breathing.

Do you have any questions or concerns after reading this information? It's a good idea to write them down and take them to your next doctor visit.