Post Op Care
Post operative care
There is a range of activities that nurses need to undertake when caring for postoperative patients. There are also specialist areas of surgery, e.g. bowel and thoracic surgery, which require more specific care and these are covered in Section 5.
The patient is placed in the recovery room attached to theatre. The patients’ condition is assessed and he is nursed in the lateral recovery position to minimize risks of aspiration until fully conscious, when he can be transferred back to the ward.
The bed area has been prepared and includes:
• airways, various sizes
• oxygen supply, disposable mask and tubing
• suction equipment, selection of catheters
• disposable gloves, gauze swabs, bowl of water and receiver
• oxygen saturation monitor
• emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation equipment.
A significant aspect of a surgical nurse’s role is to reduce the risk of postoperative complications for patients. Surgical complications carry a potential risk to a person’s recovery, as well as incurring significant financial costs. Some of the more common postoperative complications are:
• wound infection
• deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• bleeding (hypovolaemia, hypovolaemic shock)
• chest infection
• urinary retention
• urinary tract infection (UTI)
• paralytic ileus
• nausea and vomiting
• joint stiffness
• pressure sores
• shock
• hypothermia
• restlessness/confusion/ hypoxia.
It is necessary for the nurse to undertake regular monitoring of the patient and ensure the correct postoperative instructions are adhered to.
Special nursing considerations
These may include an assessment of the patient’s risk of DVT formation and instigating preventive measures such as:
• ensuring patient cooperation through education
• encouraging deep breathing and coughing at regular intervals, movement around the bed
• early mobilization
• antiembolic stockings
• administration of postoperative heparin/warfarin
•
There is a range of activities that nurses need to undertake when caring for postoperative patients. There are also specialist areas of surgery, e.g. bowel and thoracic surgery, which require more specific care and these are covered in Section 5.
The patient is placed in the recovery room attached to theatre. The patients’ condition is assessed and he is nursed in the lateral recovery position to minimize risks of aspiration until fully conscious, when he can be transferred back to the ward.
The bed area has been prepared and includes:
• airways, various sizes
• oxygen supply, disposable mask and tubing
• suction equipment, selection of catheters
• disposable gloves, gauze swabs, bowl of water and receiver
• oxygen saturation monitor
• emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation equipment.
A significant aspect of a surgical nurse’s role is to reduce the risk of postoperative complications for patients. Surgical complications carry a potential risk to a person’s recovery, as well as incurring significant financial costs. Some of the more common postoperative complications are:
• wound infection
• deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• bleeding (hypovolaemia, hypovolaemic shock)
• chest infection
• urinary retention
• urinary tract infection (UTI)
• paralytic ileus
• nausea and vomiting
• joint stiffness
• pressure sores
• shock
• hypothermia
• restlessness/confusion/ hypoxia.
It is necessary for the nurse to undertake regular monitoring of the patient and ensure the correct postoperative instructions are adhered to.
Special nursing considerations
These may include an assessment of the patient’s risk of DVT formation and instigating preventive measures such as:
• ensuring patient cooperation through education
• encouraging deep breathing and coughing at regular intervals, movement around the bed
• early mobilization
• antiembolic stockings
• administration of postoperative heparin/warfarin
•