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Submitted by 
Dr Shijo Dany Kurian 
1st yr PG
 Postoperative complications may either be 
general or specific to the type of surgery 
undertaken and should be managed with the 
patient's history in mind. 
 Common general postoperative complications 
include postoperative fever, atelectasis, wound 
infection, embolism and deep vein thrombosis 
(DVT). 
 Specific complications occur in the following 
patterns: early postoperative, several days after 
the operation, throughout the postoperative 
period and in the late postoperative period
 IMMEDIATE 
 Primary haemorrhage: either starting during 
surgery or following postoperative increase in 
 blood pressure - replace blood loss and may 
require return to theatre to re-explore the 
wound. 
 Basal atelectasis: minor lung collapse. 
 Shock: blood loss, acute myocardial infarction, 
pulmonary embolism or septicaemia. 
 Low urine output: inadequate fluid replacement 
intra-operatively and postoperatively.
 Acute confusion: exclude dehydration and sepsis. 
 Nausea and vomiting: analgesia or anaesthetic-related; 
paralytic ileus. 
 Fever 
 Secondary haemorrhage: often as a result of 
infection. 
 Pneumonia. 
 Wound or anastomosis dehiscence. 
 DVT. 
 Acute urinary retention. 
 Urinary tract infection (UTI). 
 Postoperative wound infection. 
 Bowel obstruction due to fibrinous adhesions. 
 Paralytic Ileus.
 Bowel obstruction due to fibrous adhesions. 
 Incisional hernia. 
 Persistent sinus. 
 Recurrence of reason for surgery - eg, 
malignancy.
 The following criteria must be fulfilled before a patient 
can be discharged from the recovery room 
 The patient is fully conscious, responding to voice or 
light touch, able to maintain a clear airway and has a 
normal cough reflex 
 Respiration and oxygen saturation are satisfactory 
(10-20 breaths per minute and SpO2 > 92% 
 The cardiovascular system is stable with no 
unexplained cardiac irregularity or persistent bleeding. 
 The patient’s pulse and blood pressure should 
approximate to normal preoperative values or should 
be at a level commensurate with the planned 
postoperative care
 pain and emesis should be controlled and 
suitable analgesic and anti-emetic regimens 
should be prescribed 
 temperature should be within acceptable 
limits (>36°C) 
 oxygen and fluid therapy should be 
prescribed when required.
 The first postoperative assessment should 
take place immediately after surgery on 
return to the ward. 
 It provides a baseline against which the 
patient’s condition may subsequently be 
assessed and identifies any problems that 
may have occurred on transfer from the 
operating department.
 The first postoperative assessment should 
determine: 
 intraoperative history and postoperative 
instructions 
 circulatory volume status 
 respiratory status 
 mental status.
 The following postoperative treatment and 
prophylaxis options should be discussed 
preoperatively : 
 adequate pain control 
 venous thromboembolism prophylaxis 
 antibiotic prophylaxis 
 continuation of current medications 
 substitution of current medication (eg 
diabetic control, steroid therapy)
 Prophylaxis for postoperative nausea and 
vomiting 
 Ability of patients to take drugs by mouth 
 Pressure area management. 
Postoperatively, consider the need for: 
 physiotherapy 
 nutrition team consultation 
 oral hygiene.
 Surgical patients are usually seen once or twice a day on the 
ward round and their status must be documented. 
 Clear clinical notes must be kept and an entry made every 
time a patient is reviewed. 
 This assessment is the most complete opportunity to ensure 
that the patient is progressing in a satisfactory manner. 
 Each daily assessment is an opportunity to modify the 
monitoring regimen so as best to provide data for clinical 
decision making.
 Sepsis (Eg Infection Of Chest, Urinary Tract, 
Wound, Intravenous Cannula Site, Or Intra-abdominal 
Collection) 
 Sedative Drugs 
 Hypoxaemia 
 Hypercarbia 
 Hypoglycaemia 
 Acute Neurological Event
 Myocardial Infarction 
 Urinary Retention 
 Alcohol/Drug Withdrawal 
 Hepatic Encephalopathy 
 Biochemical Abnormality (Eg Urea, Sodium, 
Potassium, Calcium, Thyroid Function, Liver 
Function).
 Days 0-2: 
 Mild fever (temperature <38°C) (common): 
 Tissue damage and necrosis at the operation 
site. 
 Haematoma. 
 Persistent fever (temperature >38°C): 
 Atelectasis: the collapsed lung may become 
secondarily infected. 
 Specific infections related to the surgery. 
 Blood transfusion or drug reaction.
Days 3-5: 
 Bronchopneumonia. 
 Sepsis. 
 Wound infection. 
 Drip site infection or phlebitis. 
 Abscess formation - eg, subphrenic or pelvic, 
depending on the surgery involved. 
 DVT.
After 5 days: 
 Specific complications related to surgery 
eg; fistula formation. 
After the first week: 
 Haemorrhage 
 Wound infection. 
 Distant sites of infection - eg, UTI. 
 DVT, pulmonary embolus
 Infectious complications are the main causes of 
postoperative morbidity in maxillofacial surgery. 
 Postoperative incidence has lessened with the 
advent of prophylactic antibiotics but multi-resistant 
organisms present an increasing 
challenge. 
 Wound infection: the most common form is 
superficial wound infection occurring within the 
first week, 
 presenting as localised pain, redness and slight 
discharge usually caused by skin staphylococci.
 Cellulitis and abscesses: 
 Most present within the first week but can be 
seen as late as the third postoperative week, 
even after leaving hospital. 
 Present with pyrexia and spreading cellulitis or 
abscess. 
 Cellulitis is treated with antibiotics. 
 Abscess requires suture removal and probing of 
the wound but deeper abscess may require 
surgical re-exploration. The wound is left open in 
both cases to heal by secondary intention.
 Gas gangrene is uncommon and life-threatening. 
 Wound sinus is a late infectious complication 
from a deep chronic abscess that can occur 
after apparently normal healing. 
 It usually needs re-exploration to remove 
non-absorbable suture or mesh, which is 
often the underlying cause
 Most wounds heal without complications and 
healing is not impaired in the elderly unless there 
are specific adverse factors or complications. 
 Factors which may affect healing rate are: 
 Poor blood supply. 
 Excess suture tension. 
 Long-term steroids. 
 Immunosuppressive therapy. 
 Radiotherapy. 
 Severe rheumatoid disease. 
 Malnutrition and vitamin deficiency.
 There are no clinical studies to indicate what is normal 
with respect to heart rate and blood pressure for 
individual patients in the postoperative period. 
 BRADYCARDIA 
 A heart rate below 50 beats per minute may be normal 
in a patient who is otherwise well. 
 Correcting the slow heart rate with a vagolytic agent 
(eg intravenous glycopyrronium bromide 0.2-0.4 mg or 
atropine sulphate 0.3- 0.6 mg) should restore the 
blood pressure and allow time for the cause of the low 
blood pressure and heart rate to be deduced.
 Heart rates over 100 beats per minute may be 
well tolerated by fit patients 
 Sustained tachycardia is particularly 
dangerous for patients who have 
documented ischaemic heart disease
 Hypotension is defined as either a systolic 
blood pressure of less than 100 mm Hg or as a 
fall of at least 25% from the patient’s normal 
pressure. 
 Hypotension is relatively common 
postoperatively and may be drug induced (eg 
residual effects 
 of anaesthesia, epidural or opioids) or may 
represent fluid deficit
OBSERVE IF: 
 Awake or easily rousable 
 Comfortable 
 Normal preoperative BP 
 Warm 
 Well perfused (capillary 
refill <2 seconds) 
 Heart rate 50-100bpm 
 Passing urine (>0.5 
ml/kg/hr) 
 No obvious bleeding 
SEEK FURTHER ADVICE IF: 
 Drowsy or unrousable 
 Distressed 
 Hypertensive 
preoperatively 
 Cold 
 Capillary refill >2 seconds 
 Heart rate >100 or <50 bpm 
 Oliguric (<0.5 ml/kg/hr) 
 Signs of bleeding (drains, 
wounds, haematoma)
 Hypertension is common in the postoperative 
period as a result of a number of factors 
including the stress response, pain, anxiety and 
failure to continue medication perioperatively. 
 Postoperative hypertension is associated with 
bleeding, cerebral events and myocardial 
ischaemia especially if the heart rate is also 
elevated. 
 Treatment of Hypertension 
 Beta blockers and intravenous (IV) nitrates are 
effective for the control of postoperative 
hypertension
 Myocardial ischaemia in the first 48 hours after an 
operation is the single most important predictor of 
serious cardiac events (including cardiac death, 
myocardial infarction, unstable angina, congestive 
heart failure and serious arrhythmias) 
 Several studies have demonstrated that beta blockers 
are effective in reducing perioperative ischaemia. 
 Although caution has been expressed in the general 
use of prophylactic beta blockade, reviews suggest 
that perioperative blockade reduces the incidence of 
both ischaemia and MI in patients undergoing high 
risk surgery.
 Perioperative MI (PMI) carries a high risk of 
both short and long term morbidity. It is 
usuallysilent in presentation with non-specific 
ECG changes 
 Troponin I has been shown to be a sensitive 
and specific method for the diagnosis of 
PMI,whereasTroponin T has been shown to 
be a marker for PMI in patients with CAD or 
CAD risk factors undergoing non-cardiac 
surgery
 Patients on warfarin sodium have increased risk 
of haemorrhage in the perioperative period. 
 Warfarin sodium should normally be 
discontinued preoperatively and restarted as 
soon as is deemed safe postoperatively 
 The guideline suggests that after warfarin 
sodium therapy is restarted following surgery it 
takes about three days on average for the 
international normalised ratio (INR) to increase 
above 2.0.
 Causes : 
 Anaesthetic-impaired thermoregulation 
 Cold operating environments 
 Open body cavities 
 Administration of unwarmed IV fluid. 
 Management: 
 Forced air warming technique (reduces 
cardiac events)
 Pulmonary complications are an important and 
common cause of postoperative morbidity and 
mortality 
 If patients at risk can be recognised, it may be 
possible to modify some risk factors before 
elective surgery to reduce the rate of these 
complications 
 Early recognition of developing respiratory 
complications with appropriate interventions 
may improve outcome
 The generally accepted diagnostic criteria for respiratory failure, 
pulmonary infections, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and 
acute lung injury are as follows: 
 Respiratory failure 
 Type 1 PaO2 < 8kPa (60 mm Hg), PaCO2 <6.6kPa (50 mm Hg) 
 Type 2 PaO2< 8kPa (60 mm Hg), PaCO2>6.6kPa (50 mm Hg). 
 Atelectasis 
 Pulmonary collapse clinically or on X-ray which may be subsegmental, 
segmental, lobar or 
 pulmonary, without evidence of respiratory infection. 
 Respiratory infection 
 Any two of the following on two or more days: 
 Pyrexia >38 
 Positive sputum culture 
 Positive clinical findings 
 Abnormal chest X-ray – Atelectasis/infiltrates.
 Acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute 
lung injury: 
 Acute onset 
 Bilateral infiltrates on chest radiography 
 Pulmonary artery capillary wedge pressure 
(PACWP) =18 mm Hg or the absence of clinical 
evidence of left heart failure 
 Acute lung injury is considered to be present if 
PaO2(kPa) <_ 40 
 ARDS is considered to be present if 
PaO2 (kPa) <_ 26.
 Respiratory complications occur after major surgery, 
particularly after general anaesthesia and can include : 
 Atelectasis (alveolar collapse): 
 This is caused when airways become obstructed, 
usually by bronchial secretions. Most cases are mild 
and may go unnoticed. 
 Symptoms are slow recovery from operations, poor 
colour, mild tachypnoea and tachycardia. 
 Prevention is by preoperative and postoperative 
physiotherapy. 
 In severe cases, positive pressure ventilation may be 
required. 
 Pneumonia: requires antibiotics, and physiotherapy.
 Up to 4.5% has been reported in adults; higher in children. 
 Sterile inflammation of the lungs from inhaling gastric 
contents. 
 Presents with a history of vomiting or regurgitation with 
rapid onset of breathlessness and wheezing. 
 A non-starved patient undergoing emergency surgery is 
particularly at risk. 
 It may be of help to avoid this by crash induction 
technique and use of oral antacids or metoclopramide. 
 Mortality is nearly 50% and requires urgent treatment 
with bronchial suction, positive pressure ventilation, 
prophylactic antibiotics and IV steroids
 Rapid, shallow breathing, severe hypoxaemia 
with scattered crepitations but no cough, chest 
pains or haemoptysis, appearing 24-48 hours 
after surgery. 
 it occurs in many conditions where there is direct 
or systemic insult to the lung – eg:multiple 
trauma with shock. 
 The complication is rare and various methods 
have been described to predict high-risk 
patients. 
 It requires intensive care with mechanical 
ventilation with positive end pressure.
 Classically presents with sudden dyspnoea 
and cardiovascular collapse with pleuritic 
chest pain , pleural rub and haemoptysis. 
 However, smaller pulmonary emboli are 
more common and present with confusion, 
breathlessness and chest pain. 
 Diagnosis is by ventilation/perfusion 
scanning and/or pulmonary angiography or 
dynamic CT.
 Oxygen can be delivered by a large number of 
different devices. 
 100% oxygen can only be supplied by endotracheal 
intubation and positive pressure ventilation. 
 Oxygen should be given to patients with hypoxaemia 
using a device that is best tolerated to achieve the 
necessary SpO2. 
 In normally hydrated patients humidification is 
unnecessary. 
 Failure to maintain an SpO2 >90% or PaO2>8.0 kPa is 
an indication to consider assisted ventilation
 BASAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE POSTOPERATIVE 
PATIENT 
 The basal requirements for young adults are approximately 
30 ml/kg/day of water, 1.0-1.4 mmol/kg/day of sodium and 
0.7-0.9 mmol/kg/day of potassium. 
 PRINCIPLES OF FLUID BALANCE 
 As in any patient, the standard principles of fluid balance in 
the postoperative patient are: 
 to correct any pre-existing deficit
 to supply basal needs 
 to replace unusual losses (eg from the pre-existing 
surgical problem, surgical drains, 
pyrexia) 
 to use the oral route where possible; there is 
often an unnecessary delay in commencing 
oral intake after surgery
 Possible causes of volume depletion 
 unrecognised or uncorrected preoperative 
hypovolaemia (including effects of fasting) 
 inadequate intra- or postoperative 
replacement 
 third space losses (fluid sequestration in the gut 
or peritoneal cavity, oedema) 
 drain losses 
 fistulae
 polyuric renal failure 
 hyperventilation 
 pyrexia 
 nasogastric aspirate 
 haemorrhage 
 inappropriate use of diuretics
 The specific consequences are: 
 anastomotic breakdown 
 cerebral damage 
 renal failure 
 multiple organ failure.
 Excessive fluid administration due to: 
 over estimation of loss (drain or third space 
losses) 
 failure to recognise deteriorating renal function 
 failure to recognise deteriorating cardiac 
function. 
 Volume overload can lead to pulmonary and 
tissue oedema. 
 Pulmonary oedema can be immediately life 
threatening. 
 Tissue oedema can lead to poor tissue perfusion, 
failure to absorb enteral feed, and failure to eat.
 Oliguria is defined as urine volume of less 
than 0.5 ml/kg/hr for two consecutive hours. 
 Oliguria in an alert patient, is unlikely to 
require intervention unless it persists for four 
hours or more. 
 If oliguria is associated with fluid depletion it 
should be treated initially with a fluid 
challenge.
 In all cases of oliguria it is important to 
exclude obstruction of the urinary tract or 
urinary catheter. 
 Diuretics should not be used to treat oliguria 
and should be reserved for fluid overload. 
 Dopamine should not be used to treat 
oliguria or to prevent renal failure
 Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion is increased 
after surgery and if excess water is given (as 5% 
dextrose) then hyponatraemia may be induced. 
 If hyponatraemia is associated with volume depletion 
then there must be a degree of sodium deficiency. 
 The estimation of the degree of volume excess or 
volume depletion requires clinical assessment in 
addition to biochemical estimates. 
 Very low levels of serum sodium (110-120 mmol/L or 
less) can produce symptoms such as stupor, coma or 
fits and constitute a medical emergency
 Hypernatraemia most commonly indicates a 
total body deficiency of water and is an 
indication for prompt assessment and 
intervention, especially when levels exceed 
155 mmol/L
 True potassium deficiency in postoperative 
patients may result from: 
 inadequate replacement 
 renal losses 
 endocrine abnormalities 
 upper and lower GI losses (the actual loss of 
potassium from the upper GI tract is small, but 
the loss of chloride causes alkalosis which 
promotes the movement of potassium into cells 
and increases renal excretion).
 The clinical effects of hypokalaemia include 
skeletal muscle weakness, ileus, and cardiac 
arrhythmias. It can also potentiate the 
adverse effects of digoxin. 
 It is seldom necessary to replace potassium at 
a rate of greater than 10-20 mmol/hr. 
 Concentrated solutions of potassium are 
intensely irritant to peripheral veins and can 
cause tissue necrosis if they extravasate.
 Emergency treatment of hyperkalaemia: 
 IV calcium chloride, which must be titrated 
slowly, 
 IV calcium gluconate, 
 Nebulised beta agonists (such as salbutamol) 
 IV 50 ml 50% dextrose with 10 units of short 
acting insulin.
 Metabolic acidosis is usually due to poor 
tissue perfusion but can also be caused by 
excessive administration of saline. 
 A total venous bicarbonate of less than 
20 mmol/L or a base deficit of greater than 
4 mmol/L may indicate cause for concern, 
particularly if the trend is towards progressive 
acidosis.
 large load of acid produced endogenously as a by-product of 
body metabolism 
 acids are neutralized efficiently by several buffer systems and 
subsequently excreted by the lungs and kidneys 
 Buffers: 
 proteins and phosphates: primary role in maintaining 
intracellular pH 
 bicarbonate–carbonic acid system: operates principally in 
ECF
 buffer systems consists of a weak acid or base and the 
salt of that acid or base 
 Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, which defines the 
pH in terms of the ratio of the salt and acid: 
 pH = pK + log BHCO3 / H2CO3 = 27 mEq/L / 1.33 
mEq/L = 20 / 1 = 7.4 
 As long as the 20:1 ratio is maintained, regardless 
of the absolute values, the pH will remain at 7.4
 Four types of acid-base disturbances 
 combinations of respiratory and metabolic changes 
may represent: 
▪ compensation for the initial acid-base disturbance 
or, 
▪ two or more coexisting primary disorders 
 10-mmHg PaCO2 change yields a 0.08 pH change
 retention of CO2 secondary to decreased alveolar ventilation 
 management involves prompt correction of the pulmonary 
defect, when feasible, and measures to ensure adequate 
ventilation 
 prevention: tracheobronchial hygiene during the 
postoperative , humidified air, and avoiding oversedation
 PaCO2 should not be below 30 mmHg 
 dangers of a severe respiratory alkalosis are 
those related to potassium depletion 
 hypokalemia is related to entry of potassium ions into the 
cells in exchange for hydrogen and an excessive urinary 
potassium loss in exchange for sodium 
 shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve 
to the left, which limits the ability of 
hemoglobin to unload oxygen at tissues
 Anion gap is a useful aid: 
 normal value is 10 to 15 mEq/L 
 unmeasured anions that account for the “gap” 
are sulfate and phosphate plus lactate and 
other organic anions 
 measured ions are sodium, bicarb, and 
chloride
 treatment of metabolic acidosis should be directed 
toward correction of the underlying disorder 
 sodium bicarbonate is discouraged, attempt to treat 
underlying cause 
 shifts the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve left 
 interference with O2 unloading at the tissue level
 common surgical patient has hypochloremic, 
hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis resulting from 
persistent vomiting or gastric suction in the patient 
with pyloric obstruction 
 unlike vomiting with an open pylorus, which involves 
a combined loss of gastric, pancreatic, biliary, and 
intestinal secretions
 majority of the 1000 to 1200g of calcium in the 
average-sized adult is found in the bone 
 Normal daily intake of calcium is 1 to 3 gm 
 Most is excreted via the GI tract 
 half is non-ionized and bound to proteins 
 ionized portion is responsible for neuromuscular 
stability
 signs & symptoms (serum level < 8): 
 numbness and tingling of the circumoral region 
and the tips of the fingers and toes 
 hyperactive tendon reflexes, positive Chvostek's 
sign, muscle and abdominal cramps, tetany with 
carpopedal spasm, convulsions (with severe 
deficit), and prolongation of the Q-T interval on 
the ECG
 causes: 
▪ acute pancreatitis, massive soft-tissue 
infections (necrotizing fasciitis), acute and 
chronic renal failure, pancreatic and small-bowel 
fistulas, and hypoparathyroidism
 signs & symptoms: 
 CNS: easy fatigue, weakness, stupor, and 
coma 
 GI: anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and weight 
loss, thirst, polydipsia, and polyuria
 two major causes: 
 hyperparathyroidism and cancer 
 bone mets 
 PTH-like peptide in malignancies
 total body content of magnesium 2000 mEq 
 about half of which is incorporated in bone 
 distribution of Mg similar to K+, the major portion 
being intracellular 
 normal daily dietary intake of magnesium is 
approximately 240 mg 
 most is excreted in the feces and the remainder in 
the urine
 causes: 
 starvation, malabsorption syndromes, GI 
losses, prolonged IV or TPN with 
magnesium-free solutions 
 signs & symptoms: 
 similar to those of calcium deficiency
 Symptomatic hypermagnesemia, although 
rare, is most commonly seen with severe 
renal insufficiency 
 signs & symptoms: 
 CNS: lethargy and weakness with progressive loss 
of DTR’s – somnolence, coma, death 
 CVS: increased P-R interval, widened QRS 
complex, and elevated T waves (resemble 
hyperkalemia) – cardiac arrest
 Urinary retention: this is a common immediate 
postoperative complication that can often be 
dealt with conservatively with adequate 
analgesia. If this fails, catheterisation may be 
needed, depending on 
 surgical factors, type of anaesthesia, co 
morbidities and local policies. 
 UTI: this is very common, especially in women, 
and may not present with typical symptoms. 
Treat with antibiotics and adequate fluid intake.
 This may be caused by antibiotics, obstructive 
jaundice and surgery to the aorta. 
 It is often due to an episode of severe or 
prolonged hypotension. 
 It presents as low urine output with adequate 
hydration. 
 Mild cases may be treated with fluid restriction 
until tubular function recovers. However, it is 
essential to differentiate it from pre-renal failure 
due to hypovolaemia which requires rehydration.
 In severe cases haemofiltration or dialysis 
may be needed while function gradually 
recovers over weeks or months. 
 One study found that factors predictive of 
acute kidney injury included advanced age, 
liver disease, high-risk surgery and peripheral 
vascular disease.
 Sepsis is the systemic inflammatory response to 
infection leading to a generalised inflammatory 
reaction in organs remote from the initial insult 
and eventually to end-organ dysfunction and/or 
failure 
 Early identification,immediate resuscitation, 
identifying the primary source, use of early and 
appropriate antibiotics and undertaking 
appropriate surgical drainage are the mainstays 
of treatment
 The response is defined by the presence of 
two or more of the following: 
 temperature >38*C or <36*C 
 heart rate >90 beats/min 
 respiratory rate >20 breaths/min or 
PaCO2<4.3kPa 
 white cell count >12,000 cells/mm3 , <4,000 
cells/mm3, or >10% immature forms.
 Prophylactic antibiotics should be administered 
to appropriate groups of patients to reduce the 
risk of developing postoperative sepsis 
 Hand washing with soap and water or with 
alcoholic cleansing agents should be performed 
before and after patient contact. 
 Strict hand antisepsis must be achieved before 
the performance of invasive procedures such as 
surgery or the placement of intravascular 
catheters and indwelling urinary catheters.
 Fever/hypothermia 
 Unexplained tachycardia 
 Unexplained tachypnoea 
 Signs of peripheral vasodilation 
 Unexplained hypotension/shock 
 Changes in mental state 
 Leucocytosis/neutropenia 
 Unexplained alteration in renal or liver function 
 Thrombocytopenia/ disseminated intravascular 
coagulation 
 Metabolic acidosis
 severity of sepsis may be assessed by looking 
for organ dysfunction which may be reflected 
by altered platelet count, coagulation screen, 
renal function, liver function and C-reactive 
protein. 
 Urine and blood cultures should be obtained 
whenever there is reason to suspect systemic 
sepsis.
 Administration of oxygen 
 Volume expansion using either colloid or 
crystalloid. 
 Antimicrobial therapy 
 A course of antimicrobial treatment should 
generally be limited to 5-7 days. 
 It is important that fungi and atypical organisms 
can also contribute to sepsis syndrome 
 Surgical intervention in the form of debridement 
or drainage of infected, devitalised tissue should 
be undertaken as soon as possible following 
haemodynamic stabilisation
 Malnourished patients are at increased risk of 
postoperative complications and mortality, yet 
artificial nutritional support can be associated 
with major complications. 
 Oral intake should be commenced as soon as 
possible after surgery 
 Anti-emetics should be used as required in order 
to promote an early return of oral intake. 
 All malnourished cancer patients should be 
considered for nutritional advice and oral 
supplements in the postoperative period
 For patients with ongoing postoperative 
complications enteral nutrition should be 
used whenever possible, combined with 
parenteral nutrition where necessary, to meet 
nutritional needs
 Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Net work 77 
Postoperative management in adults 
 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: LASKIN 
 Prevention and treatment of surgical site infection, 
NICE Clinical Guideline (October 2008) 
 Textbook of oral and maxillofacial surgery- Neelima 
Malick 
 Thompson JS, Baxter BT, Allison JG, et al ; Temporal 
patterns of postoperative complications.; Arch Surg. 
2003 Jun;138(6):596-602 
 Pile JC; Evaluating postoperative fever: a focused 
approach. Cleve Clin J Med. 2006 Mar;73 Suppl 1:S62- 
6
 Thank you....

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Postoperative complications and management

  • 1. Submitted by Dr Shijo Dany Kurian 1st yr PG
  • 2.  Postoperative complications may either be general or specific to the type of surgery undertaken and should be managed with the patient's history in mind.  Common general postoperative complications include postoperative fever, atelectasis, wound infection, embolism and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).  Specific complications occur in the following patterns: early postoperative, several days after the operation, throughout the postoperative period and in the late postoperative period
  • 3.
  • 4.  IMMEDIATE  Primary haemorrhage: either starting during surgery or following postoperative increase in  blood pressure - replace blood loss and may require return to theatre to re-explore the wound.  Basal atelectasis: minor lung collapse.  Shock: blood loss, acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism or septicaemia.  Low urine output: inadequate fluid replacement intra-operatively and postoperatively.
  • 5.  Acute confusion: exclude dehydration and sepsis.  Nausea and vomiting: analgesia or anaesthetic-related; paralytic ileus.  Fever  Secondary haemorrhage: often as a result of infection.  Pneumonia.  Wound or anastomosis dehiscence.  DVT.  Acute urinary retention.  Urinary tract infection (UTI).  Postoperative wound infection.  Bowel obstruction due to fibrinous adhesions.  Paralytic Ileus.
  • 6.  Bowel obstruction due to fibrous adhesions.  Incisional hernia.  Persistent sinus.  Recurrence of reason for surgery - eg, malignancy.
  • 7.  The following criteria must be fulfilled before a patient can be discharged from the recovery room  The patient is fully conscious, responding to voice or light touch, able to maintain a clear airway and has a normal cough reflex  Respiration and oxygen saturation are satisfactory (10-20 breaths per minute and SpO2 > 92%  The cardiovascular system is stable with no unexplained cardiac irregularity or persistent bleeding.  The patient’s pulse and blood pressure should approximate to normal preoperative values or should be at a level commensurate with the planned postoperative care
  • 8.  pain and emesis should be controlled and suitable analgesic and anti-emetic regimens should be prescribed  temperature should be within acceptable limits (>36°C)  oxygen and fluid therapy should be prescribed when required.
  • 9.
  • 10.  The first postoperative assessment should take place immediately after surgery on return to the ward.  It provides a baseline against which the patient’s condition may subsequently be assessed and identifies any problems that may have occurred on transfer from the operating department.
  • 11.  The first postoperative assessment should determine:  intraoperative history and postoperative instructions  circulatory volume status  respiratory status  mental status.
  • 12.  The following postoperative treatment and prophylaxis options should be discussed preoperatively :  adequate pain control  venous thromboembolism prophylaxis  antibiotic prophylaxis  continuation of current medications  substitution of current medication (eg diabetic control, steroid therapy)
  • 13.  Prophylaxis for postoperative nausea and vomiting  Ability of patients to take drugs by mouth  Pressure area management. Postoperatively, consider the need for:  physiotherapy  nutrition team consultation  oral hygiene.
  • 14.  Surgical patients are usually seen once or twice a day on the ward round and their status must be documented.  Clear clinical notes must be kept and an entry made every time a patient is reviewed.  This assessment is the most complete opportunity to ensure that the patient is progressing in a satisfactory manner.  Each daily assessment is an opportunity to modify the monitoring regimen so as best to provide data for clinical decision making.
  • 15.  Sepsis (Eg Infection Of Chest, Urinary Tract, Wound, Intravenous Cannula Site, Or Intra-abdominal Collection)  Sedative Drugs  Hypoxaemia  Hypercarbia  Hypoglycaemia  Acute Neurological Event
  • 16.  Myocardial Infarction  Urinary Retention  Alcohol/Drug Withdrawal  Hepatic Encephalopathy  Biochemical Abnormality (Eg Urea, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Thyroid Function, Liver Function).
  • 17.  Days 0-2:  Mild fever (temperature <38°C) (common):  Tissue damage and necrosis at the operation site.  Haematoma.  Persistent fever (temperature >38°C):  Atelectasis: the collapsed lung may become secondarily infected.  Specific infections related to the surgery.  Blood transfusion or drug reaction.
  • 18. Days 3-5:  Bronchopneumonia.  Sepsis.  Wound infection.  Drip site infection or phlebitis.  Abscess formation - eg, subphrenic or pelvic, depending on the surgery involved.  DVT.
  • 19. After 5 days:  Specific complications related to surgery eg; fistula formation. After the first week:  Haemorrhage  Wound infection.  Distant sites of infection - eg, UTI.  DVT, pulmonary embolus
  • 20.  Infectious complications are the main causes of postoperative morbidity in maxillofacial surgery.  Postoperative incidence has lessened with the advent of prophylactic antibiotics but multi-resistant organisms present an increasing challenge.  Wound infection: the most common form is superficial wound infection occurring within the first week,  presenting as localised pain, redness and slight discharge usually caused by skin staphylococci.
  • 21.  Cellulitis and abscesses:  Most present within the first week but can be seen as late as the third postoperative week, even after leaving hospital.  Present with pyrexia and spreading cellulitis or abscess.  Cellulitis is treated with antibiotics.  Abscess requires suture removal and probing of the wound but deeper abscess may require surgical re-exploration. The wound is left open in both cases to heal by secondary intention.
  • 22.  Gas gangrene is uncommon and life-threatening.  Wound sinus is a late infectious complication from a deep chronic abscess that can occur after apparently normal healing.  It usually needs re-exploration to remove non-absorbable suture or mesh, which is often the underlying cause
  • 23.  Most wounds heal without complications and healing is not impaired in the elderly unless there are specific adverse factors or complications.  Factors which may affect healing rate are:  Poor blood supply.  Excess suture tension.  Long-term steroids.  Immunosuppressive therapy.  Radiotherapy.  Severe rheumatoid disease.  Malnutrition and vitamin deficiency.
  • 24.  There are no clinical studies to indicate what is normal with respect to heart rate and blood pressure for individual patients in the postoperative period.  BRADYCARDIA  A heart rate below 50 beats per minute may be normal in a patient who is otherwise well.  Correcting the slow heart rate with a vagolytic agent (eg intravenous glycopyrronium bromide 0.2-0.4 mg or atropine sulphate 0.3- 0.6 mg) should restore the blood pressure and allow time for the cause of the low blood pressure and heart rate to be deduced.
  • 25.  Heart rates over 100 beats per minute may be well tolerated by fit patients  Sustained tachycardia is particularly dangerous for patients who have documented ischaemic heart disease
  • 26.  Hypotension is defined as either a systolic blood pressure of less than 100 mm Hg or as a fall of at least 25% from the patient’s normal pressure.  Hypotension is relatively common postoperatively and may be drug induced (eg residual effects  of anaesthesia, epidural or opioids) or may represent fluid deficit
  • 27. OBSERVE IF:  Awake or easily rousable  Comfortable  Normal preoperative BP  Warm  Well perfused (capillary refill <2 seconds)  Heart rate 50-100bpm  Passing urine (>0.5 ml/kg/hr)  No obvious bleeding SEEK FURTHER ADVICE IF:  Drowsy or unrousable  Distressed  Hypertensive preoperatively  Cold  Capillary refill >2 seconds  Heart rate >100 or <50 bpm  Oliguric (<0.5 ml/kg/hr)  Signs of bleeding (drains, wounds, haematoma)
  • 28.  Hypertension is common in the postoperative period as a result of a number of factors including the stress response, pain, anxiety and failure to continue medication perioperatively.  Postoperative hypertension is associated with bleeding, cerebral events and myocardial ischaemia especially if the heart rate is also elevated.  Treatment of Hypertension  Beta blockers and intravenous (IV) nitrates are effective for the control of postoperative hypertension
  • 29.  Myocardial ischaemia in the first 48 hours after an operation is the single most important predictor of serious cardiac events (including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, congestive heart failure and serious arrhythmias)  Several studies have demonstrated that beta blockers are effective in reducing perioperative ischaemia.  Although caution has been expressed in the general use of prophylactic beta blockade, reviews suggest that perioperative blockade reduces the incidence of both ischaemia and MI in patients undergoing high risk surgery.
  • 30.  Perioperative MI (PMI) carries a high risk of both short and long term morbidity. It is usuallysilent in presentation with non-specific ECG changes  Troponin I has been shown to be a sensitive and specific method for the diagnosis of PMI,whereasTroponin T has been shown to be a marker for PMI in patients with CAD or CAD risk factors undergoing non-cardiac surgery
  • 31.  Patients on warfarin sodium have increased risk of haemorrhage in the perioperative period.  Warfarin sodium should normally be discontinued preoperatively and restarted as soon as is deemed safe postoperatively  The guideline suggests that after warfarin sodium therapy is restarted following surgery it takes about three days on average for the international normalised ratio (INR) to increase above 2.0.
  • 32.  Causes :  Anaesthetic-impaired thermoregulation  Cold operating environments  Open body cavities  Administration of unwarmed IV fluid.  Management:  Forced air warming technique (reduces cardiac events)
  • 33.  Pulmonary complications are an important and common cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality  If patients at risk can be recognised, it may be possible to modify some risk factors before elective surgery to reduce the rate of these complications  Early recognition of developing respiratory complications with appropriate interventions may improve outcome
  • 34.  The generally accepted diagnostic criteria for respiratory failure, pulmonary infections, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury are as follows:  Respiratory failure  Type 1 PaO2 < 8kPa (60 mm Hg), PaCO2 <6.6kPa (50 mm Hg)  Type 2 PaO2< 8kPa (60 mm Hg), PaCO2>6.6kPa (50 mm Hg).  Atelectasis  Pulmonary collapse clinically or on X-ray which may be subsegmental, segmental, lobar or  pulmonary, without evidence of respiratory infection.  Respiratory infection  Any two of the following on two or more days:  Pyrexia >38  Positive sputum culture  Positive clinical findings  Abnormal chest X-ray – Atelectasis/infiltrates.
  • 35.  Acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury:  Acute onset  Bilateral infiltrates on chest radiography  Pulmonary artery capillary wedge pressure (PACWP) =18 mm Hg or the absence of clinical evidence of left heart failure  Acute lung injury is considered to be present if PaO2(kPa) <_ 40  ARDS is considered to be present if PaO2 (kPa) <_ 26.
  • 36.  Respiratory complications occur after major surgery, particularly after general anaesthesia and can include :  Atelectasis (alveolar collapse):  This is caused when airways become obstructed, usually by bronchial secretions. Most cases are mild and may go unnoticed.  Symptoms are slow recovery from operations, poor colour, mild tachypnoea and tachycardia.  Prevention is by preoperative and postoperative physiotherapy.  In severe cases, positive pressure ventilation may be required.  Pneumonia: requires antibiotics, and physiotherapy.
  • 37.  Up to 4.5% has been reported in adults; higher in children.  Sterile inflammation of the lungs from inhaling gastric contents.  Presents with a history of vomiting or regurgitation with rapid onset of breathlessness and wheezing.  A non-starved patient undergoing emergency surgery is particularly at risk.  It may be of help to avoid this by crash induction technique and use of oral antacids or metoclopramide.  Mortality is nearly 50% and requires urgent treatment with bronchial suction, positive pressure ventilation, prophylactic antibiotics and IV steroids
  • 38.  Rapid, shallow breathing, severe hypoxaemia with scattered crepitations but no cough, chest pains or haemoptysis, appearing 24-48 hours after surgery.  it occurs in many conditions where there is direct or systemic insult to the lung – eg:multiple trauma with shock.  The complication is rare and various methods have been described to predict high-risk patients.  It requires intensive care with mechanical ventilation with positive end pressure.
  • 39.  Classically presents with sudden dyspnoea and cardiovascular collapse with pleuritic chest pain , pleural rub and haemoptysis.  However, smaller pulmonary emboli are more common and present with confusion, breathlessness and chest pain.  Diagnosis is by ventilation/perfusion scanning and/or pulmonary angiography or dynamic CT.
  • 40.  Oxygen can be delivered by a large number of different devices.  100% oxygen can only be supplied by endotracheal intubation and positive pressure ventilation.  Oxygen should be given to patients with hypoxaemia using a device that is best tolerated to achieve the necessary SpO2.  In normally hydrated patients humidification is unnecessary.  Failure to maintain an SpO2 >90% or PaO2>8.0 kPa is an indication to consider assisted ventilation
  • 41.  BASAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE POSTOPERATIVE PATIENT  The basal requirements for young adults are approximately 30 ml/kg/day of water, 1.0-1.4 mmol/kg/day of sodium and 0.7-0.9 mmol/kg/day of potassium.  PRINCIPLES OF FLUID BALANCE  As in any patient, the standard principles of fluid balance in the postoperative patient are:  to correct any pre-existing deficit
  • 42.  to supply basal needs  to replace unusual losses (eg from the pre-existing surgical problem, surgical drains, pyrexia)  to use the oral route where possible; there is often an unnecessary delay in commencing oral intake after surgery
  • 43.  Possible causes of volume depletion  unrecognised or uncorrected preoperative hypovolaemia (including effects of fasting)  inadequate intra- or postoperative replacement  third space losses (fluid sequestration in the gut or peritoneal cavity, oedema)  drain losses  fistulae
  • 44.  polyuric renal failure  hyperventilation  pyrexia  nasogastric aspirate  haemorrhage  inappropriate use of diuretics
  • 45.  The specific consequences are:  anastomotic breakdown  cerebral damage  renal failure  multiple organ failure.
  • 46.  Excessive fluid administration due to:  over estimation of loss (drain or third space losses)  failure to recognise deteriorating renal function  failure to recognise deteriorating cardiac function.  Volume overload can lead to pulmonary and tissue oedema.  Pulmonary oedema can be immediately life threatening.  Tissue oedema can lead to poor tissue perfusion, failure to absorb enteral feed, and failure to eat.
  • 47.  Oliguria is defined as urine volume of less than 0.5 ml/kg/hr for two consecutive hours.  Oliguria in an alert patient, is unlikely to require intervention unless it persists for four hours or more.  If oliguria is associated with fluid depletion it should be treated initially with a fluid challenge.
  • 48.  In all cases of oliguria it is important to exclude obstruction of the urinary tract or urinary catheter.  Diuretics should not be used to treat oliguria and should be reserved for fluid overload.  Dopamine should not be used to treat oliguria or to prevent renal failure
  • 49.  Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion is increased after surgery and if excess water is given (as 5% dextrose) then hyponatraemia may be induced.  If hyponatraemia is associated with volume depletion then there must be a degree of sodium deficiency.  The estimation of the degree of volume excess or volume depletion requires clinical assessment in addition to biochemical estimates.  Very low levels of serum sodium (110-120 mmol/L or less) can produce symptoms such as stupor, coma or fits and constitute a medical emergency
  • 50.  Hypernatraemia most commonly indicates a total body deficiency of water and is an indication for prompt assessment and intervention, especially when levels exceed 155 mmol/L
  • 51.  True potassium deficiency in postoperative patients may result from:  inadequate replacement  renal losses  endocrine abnormalities  upper and lower GI losses (the actual loss of potassium from the upper GI tract is small, but the loss of chloride causes alkalosis which promotes the movement of potassium into cells and increases renal excretion).
  • 52.  The clinical effects of hypokalaemia include skeletal muscle weakness, ileus, and cardiac arrhythmias. It can also potentiate the adverse effects of digoxin.  It is seldom necessary to replace potassium at a rate of greater than 10-20 mmol/hr.  Concentrated solutions of potassium are intensely irritant to peripheral veins and can cause tissue necrosis if they extravasate.
  • 53.  Emergency treatment of hyperkalaemia:  IV calcium chloride, which must be titrated slowly,  IV calcium gluconate,  Nebulised beta agonists (such as salbutamol)  IV 50 ml 50% dextrose with 10 units of short acting insulin.
  • 54.  Metabolic acidosis is usually due to poor tissue perfusion but can also be caused by excessive administration of saline.  A total venous bicarbonate of less than 20 mmol/L or a base deficit of greater than 4 mmol/L may indicate cause for concern, particularly if the trend is towards progressive acidosis.
  • 55.  large load of acid produced endogenously as a by-product of body metabolism  acids are neutralized efficiently by several buffer systems and subsequently excreted by the lungs and kidneys  Buffers:  proteins and phosphates: primary role in maintaining intracellular pH  bicarbonate–carbonic acid system: operates principally in ECF
  • 56.  buffer systems consists of a weak acid or base and the salt of that acid or base  Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, which defines the pH in terms of the ratio of the salt and acid:  pH = pK + log BHCO3 / H2CO3 = 27 mEq/L / 1.33 mEq/L = 20 / 1 = 7.4  As long as the 20:1 ratio is maintained, regardless of the absolute values, the pH will remain at 7.4
  • 57.  Four types of acid-base disturbances  combinations of respiratory and metabolic changes may represent: ▪ compensation for the initial acid-base disturbance or, ▪ two or more coexisting primary disorders  10-mmHg PaCO2 change yields a 0.08 pH change
  • 58.  retention of CO2 secondary to decreased alveolar ventilation  management involves prompt correction of the pulmonary defect, when feasible, and measures to ensure adequate ventilation  prevention: tracheobronchial hygiene during the postoperative , humidified air, and avoiding oversedation
  • 59.  PaCO2 should not be below 30 mmHg  dangers of a severe respiratory alkalosis are those related to potassium depletion  hypokalemia is related to entry of potassium ions into the cells in exchange for hydrogen and an excessive urinary potassium loss in exchange for sodium  shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to the left, which limits the ability of hemoglobin to unload oxygen at tissues
  • 60.  Anion gap is a useful aid:  normal value is 10 to 15 mEq/L  unmeasured anions that account for the “gap” are sulfate and phosphate plus lactate and other organic anions  measured ions are sodium, bicarb, and chloride
  • 61.  treatment of metabolic acidosis should be directed toward correction of the underlying disorder  sodium bicarbonate is discouraged, attempt to treat underlying cause  shifts the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve left  interference with O2 unloading at the tissue level
  • 62.  common surgical patient has hypochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis resulting from persistent vomiting or gastric suction in the patient with pyloric obstruction  unlike vomiting with an open pylorus, which involves a combined loss of gastric, pancreatic, biliary, and intestinal secretions
  • 63.  majority of the 1000 to 1200g of calcium in the average-sized adult is found in the bone  Normal daily intake of calcium is 1 to 3 gm  Most is excreted via the GI tract  half is non-ionized and bound to proteins  ionized portion is responsible for neuromuscular stability
  • 64.  signs & symptoms (serum level < 8):  numbness and tingling of the circumoral region and the tips of the fingers and toes  hyperactive tendon reflexes, positive Chvostek's sign, muscle and abdominal cramps, tetany with carpopedal spasm, convulsions (with severe deficit), and prolongation of the Q-T interval on the ECG
  • 65.  causes: ▪ acute pancreatitis, massive soft-tissue infections (necrotizing fasciitis), acute and chronic renal failure, pancreatic and small-bowel fistulas, and hypoparathyroidism
  • 66.  signs & symptoms:  CNS: easy fatigue, weakness, stupor, and coma  GI: anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss, thirst, polydipsia, and polyuria
  • 67.  two major causes:  hyperparathyroidism and cancer  bone mets  PTH-like peptide in malignancies
  • 68.  total body content of magnesium 2000 mEq  about half of which is incorporated in bone  distribution of Mg similar to K+, the major portion being intracellular  normal daily dietary intake of magnesium is approximately 240 mg  most is excreted in the feces and the remainder in the urine
  • 69.  causes:  starvation, malabsorption syndromes, GI losses, prolonged IV or TPN with magnesium-free solutions  signs & symptoms:  similar to those of calcium deficiency
  • 70.  Symptomatic hypermagnesemia, although rare, is most commonly seen with severe renal insufficiency  signs & symptoms:  CNS: lethargy and weakness with progressive loss of DTR’s – somnolence, coma, death  CVS: increased P-R interval, widened QRS complex, and elevated T waves (resemble hyperkalemia) – cardiac arrest
  • 71.  Urinary retention: this is a common immediate postoperative complication that can often be dealt with conservatively with adequate analgesia. If this fails, catheterisation may be needed, depending on  surgical factors, type of anaesthesia, co morbidities and local policies.  UTI: this is very common, especially in women, and may not present with typical symptoms. Treat with antibiotics and adequate fluid intake.
  • 72.  This may be caused by antibiotics, obstructive jaundice and surgery to the aorta.  It is often due to an episode of severe or prolonged hypotension.  It presents as low urine output with adequate hydration.  Mild cases may be treated with fluid restriction until tubular function recovers. However, it is essential to differentiate it from pre-renal failure due to hypovolaemia which requires rehydration.
  • 73.  In severe cases haemofiltration or dialysis may be needed while function gradually recovers over weeks or months.  One study found that factors predictive of acute kidney injury included advanced age, liver disease, high-risk surgery and peripheral vascular disease.
  • 74.  Sepsis is the systemic inflammatory response to infection leading to a generalised inflammatory reaction in organs remote from the initial insult and eventually to end-organ dysfunction and/or failure  Early identification,immediate resuscitation, identifying the primary source, use of early and appropriate antibiotics and undertaking appropriate surgical drainage are the mainstays of treatment
  • 75.  The response is defined by the presence of two or more of the following:  temperature >38*C or <36*C  heart rate >90 beats/min  respiratory rate >20 breaths/min or PaCO2<4.3kPa  white cell count >12,000 cells/mm3 , <4,000 cells/mm3, or >10% immature forms.
  • 76.  Prophylactic antibiotics should be administered to appropriate groups of patients to reduce the risk of developing postoperative sepsis  Hand washing with soap and water or with alcoholic cleansing agents should be performed before and after patient contact.  Strict hand antisepsis must be achieved before the performance of invasive procedures such as surgery or the placement of intravascular catheters and indwelling urinary catheters.
  • 77.  Fever/hypothermia  Unexplained tachycardia  Unexplained tachypnoea  Signs of peripheral vasodilation  Unexplained hypotension/shock  Changes in mental state  Leucocytosis/neutropenia  Unexplained alteration in renal or liver function  Thrombocytopenia/ disseminated intravascular coagulation  Metabolic acidosis
  • 78.  severity of sepsis may be assessed by looking for organ dysfunction which may be reflected by altered platelet count, coagulation screen, renal function, liver function and C-reactive protein.  Urine and blood cultures should be obtained whenever there is reason to suspect systemic sepsis.
  • 79.  Administration of oxygen  Volume expansion using either colloid or crystalloid.  Antimicrobial therapy  A course of antimicrobial treatment should generally be limited to 5-7 days.  It is important that fungi and atypical organisms can also contribute to sepsis syndrome  Surgical intervention in the form of debridement or drainage of infected, devitalised tissue should be undertaken as soon as possible following haemodynamic stabilisation
  • 80.  Malnourished patients are at increased risk of postoperative complications and mortality, yet artificial nutritional support can be associated with major complications.  Oral intake should be commenced as soon as possible after surgery  Anti-emetics should be used as required in order to promote an early return of oral intake.  All malnourished cancer patients should be considered for nutritional advice and oral supplements in the postoperative period
  • 81.  For patients with ongoing postoperative complications enteral nutrition should be used whenever possible, combined with parenteral nutrition where necessary, to meet nutritional needs
  • 82.  Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Net work 77 Postoperative management in adults  Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: LASKIN  Prevention and treatment of surgical site infection, NICE Clinical Guideline (October 2008)  Textbook of oral and maxillofacial surgery- Neelima Malick  Thompson JS, Baxter BT, Allison JG, et al ; Temporal patterns of postoperative complications.; Arch Surg. 2003 Jun;138(6):596-602  Pile JC; Evaluating postoperative fever: a focused approach. Cleve Clin J Med. 2006 Mar;73 Suppl 1:S62- 6

Editor's Notes

  1. The highest incidence of postoperative complications is between one and three days after the operation
  2. ntraoperative history and postoperative instructions n past medical history n medications n allergies n intraoperative complications n postoperative instructions n recommended treatment and prophylaxis. Complete a respiratory status assessment n oxygen saturation n effort of breathing/use of accessory muscles n respiratory rate n trachea - central or not? n symmetry of respiration/expansion n breath sounds n percussion note. Complete a circulatory volume status assessment n hands - warm or cool, pink or pale n capillary return – less than two seconds or not? n pulse rate n pulse volume n pulse rhythm n blood pressure (see section 3.3) n conjunctival pallor n jugular venous pressure (JVP, see below) n urine colour and rate of production (see section 5.6) n drainage from drains, wounds and nasogastric tubes. Complete a mental status assessment n Patient conscious and normally responsive (AVPU) n If abnormal determine whether confusion is present (AMT) n If abnormal determine GCS, oxygen saturation and blood glucose.