Post-surgery visit
Paul Kang has been in the operating room more times than he can count in his 10-year medical career.
Important work is done there, for sure. But the physician assistant in cardiothoracic surgery at OSF HealthCare says what happens after surgery is also consequential. He says surgery patients should ask their providers about a care plan that incorporates Enhanced Recovery After Surgery® guidelines, an established set of best practices.
“Recovery is multimodal,” Kang says. “It involves different health care providers like surgeons, physician assistants, nurses, physical therapists and nutritionists. Each plays a vital role in ensuring the person’s recovery goes smoothly, focusing on improving physical condition, managing pain and preventing complications.”
Some post-surgery lifestyle things to consider:
- Avoid alcohol and smoking. In fact, Kang says you should do this four to six weeks before surgery, as well. Smoking around the time of heart surgery, he says for example, can lead to complications with your breathing.
- Get moving again. Kang says the days of “just rest” being the primary advice for surgery recovery are over. Your care team will talk to you about enrolling in cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation or physical therapy. Kang also says breathing exercises known as inspiratory spirometry are key.
- Take medication as prescribed by your provider.
“This is a very simple thing, but many people do not follow instructions. It causes complications,” Kang says.
Medication helps with pain, Kang adds. And if pain is untreated, it can impact your heart rate and breathing. Or, if a person takes too much of an opioid, Kang says it can drop their blood pressure.
Pain medicine addiction is also something providers pay very close attention to. Kang says he doesn’t send people home with more medication than they need, and he asks about medication use at follow-up appointments. If someone shows signs of addiction or admits an addiction, a surgical provider will refer the person to an addiction service in the community.
Following these guidelines can allow for a person to return to daily activities more quickly, Kang says. But if the care plan is not followed, Kang says people can develop problems. He’s seen heart surgery patients come back to the clinic for a follow-up appointment and report trouble breathing, for example.
“With a respiratory issue, you cannot move well,” Kang says. “It can cause other complications like a thrombus [a blood clot] or a stroke.”
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