Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of different airway management strategies early used for patients after abdominal surgery in general anesthesia. Methods According to gender, age,and operation location,200 patients after abdominal surgery in general anesthesia were randomly assigned to four groups, ie. a conventional treatment group ( Group A) , an incentive spirometry ( IS) therapy group ( Group B) , an aerosol inhalation group ( Group C) , a combination of inhalation and IS therapy group ( Group D) . Inhalation drugs included Budesonide, Terbutaline, and Ambroxol. The index of pulmonary function test ( FVC, FEV1 , PEF) and arterial blood gases analysis ( ABG) were measured, and the effect of secretions clearance and the improvement of respiratory symptoms were evaluated at 0.5 h,24 h, 48 h after extubation.Intratracheal intubation of the patients after leaving ICUwas followed up. Results FVC, FEV1 , PEF, ABG,sputumvolume, the effect of secretions clearance, clinical efficacy, and intratracheal intubation rate in group B, C and D were improved more significantly than those in group A. And the therapeutic effect was best in group D ( P lt;0. 05) . The secretions clearance was improved more better in group C and D, especially in those high-risk patients with advanced age, smoking history, and pulmonary cormobidities ( P lt; 0. 05) .Conclusions The combined use of IS training and inhalation therapy can improve airway secretions clearance and pulmonary function particularly for those patients after abdominal surgery in general anesthesia, especially for those high-risk patients.