What device is commonly used to encourage deep breathing in patients with respiratory distress?

The incentive spirometer is a device specifically designed to encourage deep breathing, which is crucial for patients experiencing respiratory distress. This device helps patients take slow, deep breaths and can improve lung capacity and promote better oxygenation in the body. It is particularly effective post-surgery or in conditions where lung expansion is limited, as it helps prevent atelectasis (the collapse of part or all of a lung) by encouraging proper ventilation.

In contrast, a CPAP machine is primarily used to maintain open airways in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea and may not directly encourage deep breathing in the context of respiratory distress. An oxygen concentrator provides supplemental oxygen but does not inherently promote deep breathing techniques. Chest physiotherapy vests are used primarily for patients with conditions that involve mucus buildup in the lungs, as they assist in clearing secretions rather than focusing specifically on deep breathing techniques. Therefore, the role of the incentive spirometer makes it the most suitable device for encouraging deep breathing in such scenarios.