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Key Recovery Points
- Ambulation – It is important
that the patient begins to walk within several
hours after returning from the recovery room.
The nurse will assist the patient in the beginning.
The nursing staff will help with getting out
of bed and walking around. Over time the patient
can move independently. It is important to
get up and walk several times daily. This activity
is very important for recovery.
- Diet -
- Patients are not allowed to drink or eat
anything on the day of surgery.
- If the surgery was performed laparoscopically
the patient will have a swallow study done
in the radiology department the day after
surgery. If this test is normal the patient
can be started on sips of water. If the surgery
was performed as an open procedure, this
test will be done on the second post-operative
day.
- The patient is given four 1oz (30cc)
cups of water and instructed to drink each
of these 1oz cups over 15 minutes dividing
the cup into six to eight separate sips.
The diet is advanced to clear liquids if
the patient is able to tolerate water.
- When a patient is advanced to a clear
liquid diet, he or she is permitted to have
water, broth, decaf tea and sugar free gelatin.
It is very important to drink only 30cc over
a 15 minute time period. Stop if you feel
bloated or full. Do not use a straw.
- A patient is discharged from the hospital
after the doctor evaluates his or her ability
to tolerate liquids.
- Incentive Spirometer – This
is a device that helps expand the lungs
after surgery. Nurses demonstrate how to use
it once a patient wakes up. It is recommended
to do at least 10 deep breaths/hour.
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