POSTOPERATIVE CARE

POSTOPERATIVE CARE

• The postoperative care of patients after minimal access surgery - is generally straightforward, with a low incidence of pain or other problems when compared with their open counterparts. It is a good general rule that if the patient develops a fever or tachycardia, or complains of severe pain at the operation site, something is wrong and close observation or intervention is necessary (see also Chapter 24 ). ). - -

(a) (b) Figure 10.6 Use of rolled swabs for retraction of the lung during pulmonary lobectomy (courtesy of Mr Tom Routledge, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK).

About half of patients experience some degree of nausea after minimal access surgery . It usually responds to an antiemetic, such as ondansetron, and settles within 12–24 hours. It is made worse by opiate analgesics and these should be rationalised or avoided where at all possible. POSTOPERATIVE CARE

• The postoperative care of patients after minimal access surgery - is generally straightforward, with a low incidence of pain or other problems when compared with their open counterparts. It is a good general rule that if the patient develops a fever or tachycardia, or complains of severe pain at the operation site, something is wrong and close observation or intervention is necessary (see also Chapter 24 ). ). - -

(a) (b) Figure 10.6 Use of rolled swabs for retraction of the lung during pulmonary lobectomy (courtesy of Mr Tom Routledge, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK).

About half of patients experience some degree of nausea after minimal access surgery . It usually responds to an antiemetic, such as ondansetron, and settles within 12–24 hours. It is made worse by opiate analgesics and these should be rationalised or avoided where at all possible. POSTOPERATIVE CARE

• The postoperative care of patients after minimal access surgery - is generally straightforward, with a low incidence of pain or other problems when compared with their open counterparts. It is a good general rule that if the patient develops a fever or tachycardia, or complains of severe pain at the operation site, something is wrong and close observation or intervention is necessary (see also Chapter 24 ). ). - -

(a) (b) Figure 10.6 Use of rolled swabs for retraction of the lung during pulmonary lobectomy (courtesy of Mr Tom Routledge, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK).

About half of patients experience some degree of nausea after minimal access surgery . It usually responds to an antiemetic, such as ondansetron, and settles within 12–24 hours. It is made worse by opiate analgesics and these should be rationalised or avoided where at all possible.