We do everything we can to prevent an infection, but it does happen. If you get a wound infection, your incision may be:
Red
More painful
Have drainage
The team may open the incision to let the infection drain or put you on antibiotics. You may have an open wound that needs dressing changes at home. We will talk about this and arrange help for you before you leave the hospital.
Postoperative nausea and vomiting
You may feel sick to your stomach after surgery. We can give you medicine to help.
If you feel sick, eat less food. Switch to a liquid diet. Small frequent meals or drinks are best. As long as you can drink and keep yourself hydrated, the stomach upset will likely pass.
Postoperative ileus
One of the most common problems after surgery is your bowel can shut down. It is called an ileus. This means food and gas have trouble passing through your intestines. If you do get an ileus, it usually lasts two to three days.
The Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) program does everything possible to lower your chance of getting an ileus. The best way to avoid it is to:
Lower the amount of narcotic pain medicines you take
Get up as much as possible
Chew gum
Eat small amounts of food and drinks
Anastomotic leak
This is a serious problem. It means the two ends of the bowel we joined together do not heal. If this happens, it is usually within five to 14 days after surgery. Symptoms of a leak are:
Severe abdominal pain
Fever
Vomiting
You may need to have a drain placed. Sometimes another surgery is needed with a temporary ostomy.