| Postoperative Management Recovering
from surgery:
Once surgery has been completed, you are brought to the recovery room, which also may be
called the post-anesthesia care unit. In the recovery room, clinical staff will closely
monitor you as you recover from anesthesia. The length of time spent in recovery depends
on the type of surgery performed and the individual patient. While a patient is in
recovery, the clinical staff may do the following:
- monitor vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse and breathing
- monitor for any signs of complications
- take the patient’s temperature
- check for swallowing or gagging
- monitor the patient’s level of consciousness
- check any lines, tubes or drains
- check intravenous infusions
- monitor the patient’s bladder distention
- maintain the patient’s comfort with pain medication and body positioning
A patient can aid the speed of recovery by doing certain breathing and moving exercises
in the recovery room. Always consult with your physician before trying the following:
-
Deep breaths - Lying flat for an extended period of time can cause
fluids to accumulate in the lungs. Taking deep breaths utilizing the entire diaphragm and
abdomen can prevent pneumonia from setting in.
-
Spirometer - Sometimes patients will use a spirometer (a machine
that measures total volume of air breathed out) before surgery to measure their deep
breaths. Then, after surgery, that measurement becomes the goal in recovery.
-
Coughing - Coughing helps remove chest secretions, which is
another way to prevent pneumonia.
-
Turning - Changing positions while in the recovery bed helps
stimulate circulation, deeper breathing and relieves pressure areas.
-
Foot and leg exercises - Moving the legs and feet stimulates
circulation. Depending on the type of surgery, patients are encouraged to bend the knee
and raise the foot several times, to "bicycle" and to draw circles with their
great toes. You may be asked to wear special elastic stockings to stimulate circulation.
What is intensive care?
Sometimes a patient is transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) for further, close
monitoring. Intensive care is most often needed for patients on artificial ventilation,
for patients recovering from heart attacks or major surgery, for patients in shock, and
for patients with acute renal failure. In intensive care, clinical staff closely watches
the patient 24 hours a day.
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