After Surgery

Summary

After any operation, you'll have some side effects. There is usually some pain with surgery. There may also be swelling and soreness around the area that the surgeon cut. Your surgeon can tell you which side effects to expect.

There can also be complications. These are unplanned events linked to the operation. Some complications are infection, too much bleeding, reaction to anesthesia, or accidental injury. Some people have a greater risk of complications because of other medical conditions.

Your surgeon can tell you how you might feel and what you will be able to do - or not do - the first few days, weeks, or months after surgery. Some other questions to ask are:

• How long you will be in the hospital
• What kind of supplies, equipment, and help you might need when you go home
• When you can go back to work
• When it is ok to start exercising again
• Are there any other restrictions in your activities

Following your surgeon's advice can help you recover as soon as possible.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Learn More

• Caring for Your Incision after Surgery (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Closed suction drain with bulb (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Getting out of bed after surgery (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Hemovac drain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Keloids (American Academy of Family Physicians)
• Pain Control after Surgery: Pain Medicines (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Pain Medications after Surgery (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Surgery (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish
• Surgical Site Infection Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Surgical wound care - open (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Taking Care of Myself: A Guide for When I Leave the Hospital (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) - PDF Also in Spanish
• The day of surgery for your child (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• The day of your surgery - adult (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Postoperative Care (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Postoperative Complications (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Complications and morbidity of the extended delto-pectoral approach in treating complex...
• Article: Prevalence of chronic postsurgical hypoparathyroidism not adequately controlled: an analysis of...
• Article: Examining the relationship between preoperative nutritional and symptom assessment and postoperative...
• After Surgery -- see more articles

Patient Handouts

• Bland diet (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Clear liquid diet (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Deep breathing after surgery (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Full liquid diet (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Getting your home ready - after the hospital (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Indwelling catheter care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Postsurgical pain treatment in adults (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Self catheterization - female (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Self catheterization - male (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Suprapubic catheter care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Surgical wound care - closed (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Surgical wound infection - treatment (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Urinary catheters (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Urine drainage bags (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Using an incentive spirometer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish