The immediate and short-term needs of the patient and care to be provided will depend on the magnitude and type of surgery. The goal of postoperative care is to prevent complications such as infection, to promote healing of the surgical incision, and to return the patient to a state of health.

Another objective of postoperative care is to assist patients in taking responsibility for regaining optimum social activity after leaving the hospital. It takes times to recover from surgery, whether the procedure is minimally invasive or a form of major surgery. Any type of surgery is a stress to the patient creating physical, physcological and social changes in patient’s life.

Patients receive a great deal of information on postoperative care. Knowledge about what to expect during the postoperative period is one of the best ways to improve the patient’s outcome. Instruction about expected activities can also increase compliance and help prevent complications. This includes the opportunity for the patient to practice coughing and deep breathing exercises, use an incentive spirometer, and practice splinting the incision.

Discharge Teaching should be individualized to the needs of the patient including diet, activity, prescriptions, elimination, complications, sexual activity, special exercises, visit with the surgeon, removal of sutures or staples, care of the incision.