A, B, Cs of Bariatric Surgery Post-Op Care

Congratulations! You are beginning your journey of transformation now that your surgery is completed.  We want to share with you some information that will help during your stay with us.

Your nurses and patient care technicians (PCTs) are trained and experienced in the care of weight loss surgery (bariatric) patients. The RNs are responsible for teaching, giving medications, performing assessments and treatments, and following physician orders. Your nurse is assisted by a PCT who will help you with your bath and activities. Because we are a post surgical unit, we receive patients throughout the day and evening, and occasionally during the night.

Arriving on the Unit

When you arrive on the unit, the nursing staff will monitor you closely, checking your vital signs, monitoring your pain, as well as your intake and output.  

Activity

• The best way to speed your recovery is to increase your activity. You will be up in the chair and possibly walking in the halls on your first day. We will be encouraging you to do as much as you can for yourself. This promotes good circulation, respiratory function, and helps prevent blood clots. You will feel better and have a quicker recovery by moving early.
• Showers will be allowed after your Upper GI or esphagram and assistance will be provided if necessary.

Breathing

• The nursing staff will instruct you and encourage you to use your Incentive Spirometer (IBE). This is a device that helps you to take deep breaths, which inflate your lungs. Basically, you will inhale as much air as possible and try to hold the air in your lungs for as long as possible. You need to do this ten times every hour while you are awake.
• Use your bari-bear to support your stomach when you cough. Coughing will help to keep your lungs clear and prevent pneumonia.

Consults

Various departments will see you during your stay:

• Occupational Therapy will see all patients following gastric bypass surgery to assist and instruct you with hygiene and dressing needs.
• Dietary can address your dietary and nutrition needs if you have additional questions.
• Pastoral Care is here for your spiritual needs.
• A Care Manager and or Social Worker are available to assist you and to help with your discharge needs.
• Please read the Guide to Guest Services book in your room to learn of our other services.

Doctor Rounds

• Daily you will see a member of the surgical team to evaluate your progress post-operatively.
• The pulmonary team will also see you daily to assess your lung function and activity.
• Since both groups see many patients in the hospital, it may be difficult to predict rounding times. 
  

Education

• If you have not reviewed the Lovenox video prior to your hospital stay, please request to see it.  This video will instruct you how to give yourself the Lovenox injections.  This medication is very important in preventing blood clots after surgery.  Your nurse will also review this with you and have you give yourself an injection before discharge.
• Your nurse will review all instructions regarding wound & drain care, activity, medications, possible complications, and follow-up appointments with you prior to discharge.

Medications

• After you pass your Upper GI or esophagram and for one month following discharge, all of your medications will need to be in a liquid or crushed form. Some medications can be crushed and mixed with water.  It is important that any long-acting or sustained-release medications NOT be crushed. If you are currently taking these types of medications, discuss this with your doctor before discharge.

Monitors, Tubes & Drains

• All bariatric surgery patients have remote telemetry (to monitor your heart rate) and continuous pulse oximetry (to monitor your oxygen level).
• You may have a catheter to drain your urine. This will probably be removed in a day or so.
• You may have one or more drains placed in your abdomen during surgery to aid in the healing process. The staff will teach you how to care for this before you go home.

Nutrition

• You may be very thirsty during the first few days after surgery. You may be able to have liquids by mouth depending on the procedure performed and your surgeon’s orders for you. You will get extra fluids in your IVs as needed. This allows your stomach to heal properly.
• Once you are cleared to have liquids by mouth, it is important to keep your body well hydrated.  Following the clear liquid diet instructions carefully will help reduce nausea and aid in healing.

Pain Management

• You may start out on a pain pump that you can control or be given IV pain medication as needed by your nurse. Once you begin liquids by mouth, you may have liquid pain medication. Although it is normal to have some discomfort as activity increases, be sure to let your nurse know the effectiveness of your pain medication.

Upcoming Tests

• You will have blood drawn every morning. This is done to check your blood counts and your body’s chemistry.
• A day or two after surgery you will have an Upper GI or esophagram. If the results are within normal limits, you will be instructed to start on limited clear liquids. Your nurse will provide you with an instruction sheet & measuring cups.

Discharge

• Your physician will determine when it is time for you to go home. The nurse will review your discharge instructions with you. You will need to be discharged by all of your physicians before you can leave. Remember to write down any special questions you may have for your doctor.
• You will receive a discharge packet of instructions and home supplies from your nurse or PCT.  Please review and ask any questions that you may have prior to leaving.

Let us know what we can do to make your stay pleasant and your recovery quick!

- Alexian Brother Medical Center & St. Alexius Medical Center