Hello Thanks for posting here. I have gone through your description. Since she had an abdominal surgery, sometimes, the lung bases tend to collapse after surgery. This is called post operative atelectasis. This may lead to cough. Treatment for atelectasis is breathing exercises and incentive spirometry which requires you to blow in and out on a spirometer for 3-4 times a day for 10mins duration. Other infective causes of cough should also be ruled out . Please get a chest X ray done to see if there is any pneumonia patch. If despite this symptoms persist, a HRCT chest should be done, which will definitely give an answer to her issues. wishing her good health Regards