After Surgery
- After surgery is over the doctor will come to the waiting room only to speak with the family. Please ask a family member or friend to stay in this area until they have spoken with the doctor and patient is ready for discharge. If your family or friend must leave, please let the volunteer know.
- Following surgery you will be taken to one of our Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, where you will be closely monitored by a highly skilled nursing staff that will take very good care of you.
- The nurse will be evaluating your pain level frequently, please let her know if you are hurting. You will be asked to rate your pain on a scale of "0" (no pain) to "10" (severe pain). If you are not able to talk the nurse will watch for other signs.
- The nurse will periodically update your family on your condition while in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. Please pick up the phone, when the volunteer is away from the desk, for updates.
- When you have awakened from anesthesia, you will be taken to an area where your family may join you until you are ready to go home.
- Be sure to have a responsible adult with you at the hospital. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home or take a taxi.
- The nurse will give you and your family discharge instructions.
After Surgery Remember To Do The Following:
- Turn, cough and deep-breathe. After your surgery you will be asked to deep-breathe and cough to help prevent pneumonia. It will also be helpful for you to turn from side to side every two hours while lying in bed. Remember to continue to do these activities during the first days after your surgery.
- Control pain. Your doctor will order pain medications for you. If you are hospitalized following surgery, you must tell the nurse when you are having pain and ask for pain medications. If you are going home after surgery, you should take your pain medicines as prescribed by your doctor. If the pain medications are not controlling your pain, please contact your doctor.
- Exercise. While you are in bed, you should do leg exercises. It is important to flex and extend your feet (bend upward and downward). General leg movements are also good.
- Diet. Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) may sometimes occur the day of surgery. We encourage you to drink plenty of fluids and eat a light bland diet today. Do not drink alcohol for the next 24 hours.
- Signs of infection. Notify your doctor if any of the following occur:
- Severe nausea or vomiting
- Fever of 101 F or more
- Uncontrolled pain
- Increased redness, warmth or hardness around operative site
- Blood soaked dressings
- Inability to urinate (pass water) within 8 hours after surgery, unless otherwise directed by your nurse or doctor.
- Increasing amount of drainage from site
|
