Post Op Patient Care

Question 1

what are the 6 considerations of creating a patient plan

Answer 1

1. comfort
2. confinement
3. comprehensive care
4. care of surgical site
5. complications
6. communication

Question 2

patient plan: comfort

Answer 2

pain assessment
pain management
anxiety
space/environment
eliminations
bandages

Question 3

patient plan: confinement

Answer 3

size, location
security
activity
free from hazards

Question 4

patient plan: comprehensive

Answer 4

hydration
nutrition
nausea/GI signs
urination/defecation
cardiovascular
respiratory
concurrent conditions
food/water intake

Question 5

patient plan: care of the surgical site

Answer 5

protect using e-collar, t-shirt, bandage
monitor
heat/ice

Question 6

patient plan: complications

Answer 6

hemorrhage
- HR, PCV, MM color
- bleeding

infection
- fever, pain, visualization

GI
- nausea, regurgitation, vomiting
- anorexia

respiratory
- aspiration pneumonia
- cough, fever
- pulse ox, blood gas, etc

surgery specific complications
bandage disease

Question 7

patient plan: communications

Answer 7

• when and who will contact client
• owner visits
• verbal and written discharge instructions
• who the owner should contact with questions
• how/when test results will be relayed
• when to recheck and what to expect

Question 8

comprehensive in-hospital plan after major surgery OR in sick/debilitated patients

Answer 8

• IV fluids +/- supplements
• withhold food for 12 hours post op
• antiemetics
• q4-8 monitoring of HR, pulse, RR, auscultation
• check electrolytes, BUN, PCV
• medications and monitoring as needed for specific surgery
• hospitalization overnight

Question 9

comprehensive in-hospital plan after minor surgery

Answer 9

• withhold food for 4-6 hours post op
• less frequent monitoring once recovered
• antiemetics/supportive medications PRN
• possible same day discharge

Question 10

comprehensive at home plan

Answer 10

hospitalize until pet is cardiovascularly stable and breathing comfortably, has no major GI issues, alert, responsive, can move around for tasks of daily living, not reliant on medications unless can be managed by layperson at home

provide specific instructions for constitutional signs, food and water intake, GI disturbances, and management of concurrent conditions

Question 11

criteria for discharge

Answer 11

• pain is manageable at home
• CV stable: normal HR, pulses, hydration, PCV
• normal breathing: no increased effort, rate, or cough
• minimal GI issues
• alert, responsive, moving around
• owner willing to follow at home plan