The kind of care given after surgery is called postoperative care. The kind of postoperative care you receive will be determined by the kind of surgery you had and your overall health. Commonly, this will include wound care, pain management, and help with daily tasks at home. This can often continue after you have been released from the hospital and returned home.
Postoperative care for some minor procedures that do not necessitate a hospital stay can be mostly provided at home, also known as outpatient surgery or day care, depending on your circumstances. If you have to stay in the hospital for a while, after a more serious procedure, the first steps toward recovery will be made as an inpatient, and recovery will often continue at home.
Post-operative care services include but are not limited to:
- Monitoring and comprehensive assessment of the patient
- surveillance of the surgical site
- Administration of medication, including IV therapy and wound care, and dressing
- Infection prevention
- Management of pain
- respiratory therapy and physiotherapy
- Education for the patient’s family
