An interventional study of Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing and Incentive Spirometry in Postoperative Pulmonary Complications and Thoracic Surgery, sponsored by Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-09.
Sponsored by Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
This randomized controlled pilot study will compare intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) with incentive spirometry (IS) in adult patients undergoing thoracic surgery. The study aims to evaluate the effects of these two postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation interventions on lung volume recovery, respiratory muscle strength, oxygenation, pulmonary complications, and overall postoperative recovery. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the IPPB group or the IS group. Assessments will be performed before surgery and after the intervention period.
This is a single-center, randomized controlled pilot study conducted at Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital. A total of 30 adult patients undergoing thoracic surgery will be enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups: intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) or incentive spirometry (IS).
Before surgery, participants will undergo baseline assessments including blood sampling, lung volume measurement, chest X-ray, respiratory muscle strength assessment, and pulmonary function evaluation. After surgery, participants will receive the assigned pulmonary rehabilitation intervention from postoperative day 0 through postoperative day 3.
Participants assigned to the IS group will perform supervised slow and deep inspirations using an incentive spirometer 3 to 4 times per day, with three sets of 10 breaths per session. Participants will also be encouraged to practice independently while awake. Participants assigned to the IPPB group will receive intermittent positive pressure breathing as the postoperative lung expansion intervention according to the study protocol.
Follow-up assessments will be performed after the intervention period. Outcomes will include changes in lung volume; maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures; physiologic parameters including heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure; chest X-ray findings; pulmonary function; arterial blood gas measurements; peripheral oxygen saturation; dyspnea; pain; and postoperative pulmonary complications. Blood samples will also be collected to evaluate C-reactive protein as an indicator of postoperative inflammatory response.
The study is designed to evaluate the feasibility of the study procedures and to obtain preliminary estimates of treatment effects that may be used to inform the sample size and design of a future definitive randomized controlled trial.
Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 32 studies on the registry; 17 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants assigned to this group will receive intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) as the postoperative lung expansion intervention from postoperative day 0 through postoperative day 3.
Other: Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing
Participants assigned to this group will perform postoperative lung expansion training using incentive spirometry from postoperative day 0 through postoperative day 3.
Other: Incentive Spirometry
Intermittent positive pressure breathing will be provided as a postoperative lung expansion intervention from postoperative day 0 through postoperative day 3.
Participants will perform incentive spirometry from postoperative day 0 through postoperative day 3 under therapist supervision 3 to 4 times per day. Each supervised session will consist of 3 sets of 10 slow, deep inspirations, with a 2- to 3-second inspiratory hold. Participants will also be encouraged to practice independently while awake.
Change in Lung Volume
Change in lung volume, including tidal volume and minute ventilation, measured using a respiratory volume measurement device.
Time frame: Baseline (preoperative) and postoperative day 3
Change in Maximal Inspiratory Pressure
Change in maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) measured using a respiratory pressure measurement device to assess inspiratory muscle strength.
Time frame: Baseline (preoperative) and postoperative day 3
Change in Maximal Expiratory Pressure
Change in maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) measured using a respiratory pressure measurement device to assess expiratory muscle strength.
Time frame: Baseline (preoperative) and postoperative day 3
Change in C-Reactive Protein
Change in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration as an indicator of postoperative inflammatory response.
Time frame: Baseline (preoperative) and postoperative day 3
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: No
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital