1.
Post operative
complications

2.
Classification
• Immediate
• Early
• Late

3.
Immediate
• Primary bleeding
• Cardiac arrest
• Respiratory failure

4.
Early complications
• Pyrexia
- Atelectasis
- Tissue necrosis
- Check for pneumonia
- Check for wound sepsis
- Examine sites for cannula
- Check urine for infection

5.
Early complications
• Bleeding
- Reactive bleeding
- Secondary bleeding (after a week)

6.
Early complications
• Confusion
- Hypoxia
- Urinary retention
- MI/Stroke
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Infection
- Drugs (opiates, sedatives)

7.
Early complications
• Shortness of breath
- Hypoxia
- Pneumonia
- Heart failure (LVF)
- Fluid overloadPulmonary embolism
- Pneumothorax

8.
Early complications
• Vomiting/nausea
- Opiates
- Mechanical intestinal obstruction
- Paralytic ileus

9.
Early complications
• Wound dehiscence
- Malnutrition
- Poor operative technique
- Infection
- Immune suppression

10.
Early complications
• Pain
- Inadequate analgesia
- Infection
- DVT/PE

11.
Late complications
• Incisional hernia
• Contracture
• Hypertrophic scar
• Keloid

12.
Late complications
• Prolonged bed rest
- Pneumonia
- Muscle atrophy
- Contracture
- Constipation
- Urinary tract infection
- Renal stone

13.
Conclusion
• Always review your post operative patient
• Look out for specific complications
• Aggress intervention
• If in doubt, second look!