POST OPERATIVE

COMPLICATIONS
AND THEIR
MANAGEMENT
MISS. PRESLENE PETER
2ND YEAR B.SC. (N)
The post operative period extends from the time the patient leaves the
operating room until the last follow-up visit with the surgeon.
During the post operative period, nursing care focuses on re-establishing the
Patient’s physiologic equilibrium, alleviating pain, preventing complications,
and educating the patient about self care.
 • Functional and thermoregulatory
SYSTEMS complications
TO DEAL • Wound healing related complications
• Respiratory system
WITH
• Cardiovascular system
• Neurological system
• Gastrointestinal system
• Renal system
FUNCTIONAL&
THERMOREGULATORY
COMPLICATIONS
POST OPERATIVE FEVER
Causes Management

• Non infectious causes • Removal of foci if possible

• Infectious causes • Empirical antibiotics
1. Streptococcal • Definitive antibiotics as of C/S
2. Clostridial report
SURGICAL
SEPSIS
“ Joint commission approved hospital measures SSI for 30-90
days following surgical procedure based on national
standard.
”
Management:
• Once the incision is open a drain is attached.
• The patient is out on anti microbial therapy.
WOUND HEALING RELATED
COMPLICATIONS
SEROMA
HEMATOMA
DEHISCENCE & EVISCERATION
RESPIRATORY COMPLICATIONS
ATELECTASIS
PATIENT PRESENTATION WITH
ATELECTASIS
MANAGEMENT

• Encourage the patient to practice coughing & breathing exercises

• Counter pressure on abdominal incision
• Chest physiotherapy
ASPIRATION PNEUMONITIS
Acute lung injury that results
from inhalation of
regurgitated gastric contents
caused by general anaesthesia.
MANAGEMENT
• Ambulate the post-operative patient as
advised
• Reduce sedation
• Conform diagnosis by CXR
• If sp02 is reduced and RR is not maintained
then intubate the patient & do suctioning.
PULMONARY
EMBOLISM
CARDIOVASCULAR
COMPLICATIONS
DYSRHYTHMIAS

• Dysrhythmias are associated with

electrolyte imbalance, • Managed by treating the
anaesthetic agents. underlying causes
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS
HAEMORRHAGE
 NEUROLOGICAL
COMPLICATIONS
DELIRIUM
Management: ::::
GASTROINTESTINAL
COMPLICATIONS
POST
OPERATIVE
ILEUS

Management
Three step approach:
1. Resuscitate
2. Investigate
3. Surgery
 RENAL
COMPLICATIONS
“ Prevention is better than cure”
Therefore, as nurses let us take necessary precautions before hand to prevent
complications from occurring in prior.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Sharma K S, Madhavi S; Textbook of Medical surgical nursing; SA ed. New Delhi;
Wolter Kluwer Pvt. Ltd. 2020; p. 180-203

• Journal reference:

• Sarah ET, Gregory D K; Post operative complications, discomforts & management

[online]; 2013May 1; [ cited] 2023 June 19 https://www.ncbi.mlm.nih.gov