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After your Surgery

​After your surgery, you will be monitored by our healthcare team.

Hemodynamic Monitoring

  • Your blood pressure, oxygen level, respiration rate, pulse and pain level will be assessed frequently.
  • Your arms and legs will be checked for movement, feeling, circulation and pulse.
  • You will be transferred back to the ward or high dependency rooms or Intensive care unit or intensive care area once review by anesthetist
  • The nurse will bring you back to ward via trolley.

Airway Management

Oxygen Therapy

You will be given oxygen therapy, the nurse will remove the tube later that day or next day

Deep Breathing Exercise 

You will need to take deep, slow breaths and exhale slowly to expand your lungs. This deep-breathing exercise also stimulates the cough reflex to help you cough up secretions. You may be given a breathing aid that helps to keep your lungs healthy. (10 times per hour while awake)

Circulation-Clot Prevention

Anti embolism stockings 

These are stockings worn on your legs to prevent clots in the lower limbs and improve circulation.

Pneumatic Pumps

A mechanical device known as a calf pump may be used to squeeze the leg muscles and improve circulation while you are in the hospital.

Ankle pumps Exercises

Ankle pump exercises are to assist circulation. Lie on your back with straight legs. Keeping your heels flat, pull your toes toward your head, flexing your feet, then point your toes away from you. Move your feet and ankles back and forth, completing a full range of motion.

Pain Control Following Surgery

  • Establishing progressive pain management strategies that speed recovery and minimize postoperative pain is a critical part of your recovery.
  • Using pain medication enables you to perform the necessary activities to expedite your recovery and begin your exercise program.
  • Pain will be assessed using a number (0-10)/ scale to gauge your pain; 0 being no pain and 10 being unbearable.
  • You should tell your nurse as soon as the pain begins, as it is easier to control before it becomes severe.
  • Pain medication  will be served if you are in pain.
  • Inform the doctor/ nurse if experience side effects of pain medications.

Pain Relief Devices

You may be given pain medications, pain injection, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) or continuous infusion of pain medication.
  • PCA involves a computerized pump that either delivers a prescribed amount of medication on demand when the patient pushes a button.
  • PCA will deliver only safe doses of pain medication.
Our pain management specialists will work to transition you to oral pain medications as smoothly as possible.
​Diet / Log Rolling

Balance Diet

Good nutrition / Well balanced meals is essential for recovery. Include Vitamin C, Calcium, iron and fiber in the diet. 

Log rolling 

Keeping your body in a single unit as you roll right or left.
Your right hip must stay aligned with your right shoulder just as your left hip needs to stay aligned with your left shoulder.

To sit up

Log roll to your side. 
Push yourself up with your arms, and as your legs go down your shoulders go up.

Going to the toilet

Indwelling Urinary Catheter

Urinary catheter is inserted to allow the bladder to empty without the need to go to the toilet. The catheter is usually removed by the second or third day when you are able to walk.

Bedpan/ Urinal

A flat bedpan or urinal will be provided for you to clear your bladder. Please inform your nurse if you experience any difficulties in passing urine due to pain or / and positioning.

Prevention of Constipation

Reduced activities and certain medications may result in a change in your usual bowel habits. You will be given laxatives to soften your stools and stimulate bowel action. Drink plenty of fluids, eat whole grains, vegetables and fruits to help you resume your usual bowel habits. 

Fall Precautions

Your safety is important to us, and we need your help to prevent falls. You are advised to seek assistance if needed. You can call for the nurse using the call bell.

Surgical Drains

Haemovac Drain

This will help to prevent swelling and bruising around the spine by draining excess fluid away into the bottle that will be hooked to the bed. The tube will be removed when ordered by the surgeon.

Orthopad

You may also have Orthopad that allows autologous blood transfusion. Once certain amount blood is transfused, the orthopad will be converted to a drain.

Chest Tube

This flexible tube is inserted into the lower side of your chest to drain air and fluid if it is required. 

Wound Care

Following your operation, your wound will be covered with a dressing, which will be changed to a lighter and more comfortable one within 48 hours. You may have a silver based dressing to your wound. Your incision may have sutures, staples or steri strips. 

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SingHealth Duke-NUS
Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608 +65 6222 3322

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