woman in wheelchair leaving hospital
woman in wheelchair leaving hospital
woman in wheelchair leaving hospital

Recovering From Surgery/Intensive Care

Health care provider checking IV of man in hospital bed.

Once surgery has been completed, you are brought to the recovery room. This also may be called the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). In the recovery room, clinical staff will closely monitor you as you recover from anesthesia. The length of time spent in recovery depends on the type of surgery performed and the condition of the individual patient. While a patient is in recovery, the clinical staff may do the following:

  • Monitor vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, and breathing

  • Monitor for any signs of complications

  • Take the patient's temperature

  • Check for swallowing or gagging

  • Monitor the patient's level of consciousness

  • Check any lines, tubes, or drains

  • Check the wound

  • Check intravenous infusions

  • Monitor the patient's urine output

  • Maintain the patient's comfort with pain medicine and body positioning

A patient can aid the speed of recovery by doing certain breathing and moving exercises in the recovery room. The clinical staff will instruct and assist you in trying the following:

  • Deep breaths. Lying flat for an extended period of time can cause fluids to accumulate in the lungs. Taking deep breaths using the entire diaphragm and belly can prevent pneumonia from developing.

  • Coughing. Coughing helps remove chest secretions. This is another way to prevent pneumonia.

  • Turning. Changing positions while in the recovery bed helps stimulate circulation and deeper breathing and relieves pressure areas.

  • Foot and leg exercises. Moving the legs and feet stimulates circulation. Depending on the type of surgery, patients are encouraged to bend the knee and raise the foot several times, to "bicycle" and to draw circles with their great toes. You may be asked to wear special elastic stockings to stimulate circulation.

What is intensive care?

Sometimes a patient is transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) for further, close monitoring. Intensive care is most often needed for patients on mechanical ventilation, for patients recovering from heart attacks or major surgery, for patients in shock, and for patients with acute renal failure. In intensive care, clinical staff closely watch the patient minute-by-minute.

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