The term post-surgical care is quite broad and includes all the processes and steps post-surgery that will help a patient bounce back to their regular life. The nature of postoperative care depends a lot of whether the surgical procedure was major or minor. After the surgery, the hospital shifts the patients to a postoperative facility where they are kept anywhere between two to five hours based on the nature of the surgery. This facility is usually equipped with several machines that checks on various medical parameters like blood pressure, heart rate, sugar levels, temperature and breathing. The facility also monitors the area of surgery for any sign of infection or allergic reactions. If the surgery was done as a outpatient surgery (known as same-day surgery), the patient will be monitored just for a couple of hours and sent home unless they show signs of postoperative complications. If one is admitted as an inpatient — they will stay for a much longer time and will be monitored at periodic intervals.

So what happens once this period is over? That is, the patient is discharged and is in in the comfort of their home but no longer has access to sophisticated machines to let experts know how they are functioning. In cases wherein the recovery time is long drawn out, doctors give the patients a list of tips to follow to ensure a speedy rehabilitation. Here are some important tips:

  • Follow your doctors instructions after you are discharged from the hospital. Every instruction must be followed diligently and that includes more than just following the medicine dosages.
  • Bring about a balance and do not overdo or underdo anything. If you have been asked to undergo exercise and physiotherapy, seek out an established physiotherapist. However, if the doctors have not advised yet, do not push for it.
  • Ensure to keep your body clean and your environment clean. Wash the area of the wound with water. If your doctor has advised you to not wash with water, wet a towel or a sponge and pat it all over yourself.
  • Spend sometime with what you like doing. Emotional and mental stability helps the body to recoup.
  • Ensure that you spend sometime with your family members for emotional support and strength. Having a strong, established support system is immensely important.
  • Visit your doctor for timely follow-ups and also if you find any change in the area of surgery or when there is an increase in body temperature.

Post-surgical care becomes difficult for the elderly and for long-term diabetic patients since they already have multiple restrictions. Additional effort is always needed in such circumstances. Ensure to stay in touch with professional help and keep in mind that appropriate follow-ups can drastically reduce the risk of any further complications.

Another crucial aspect of post-surgical care is to ask your doctor even before you have your surgery on what kind of post surgery procedures are involved for that kind of operation. If you feel that you cannot afford to go through it — either physically or financially, try to avail aid for the treatment or seek an alternative form of treatment. Post surgical care is expensive and often cannot be followed fully, which sets back the recovery of the patient.