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Thoracotomy Discharge Instructions

para>This is a series of images showing how to care for your wound. They include washing your hands, having the doctor take out your stitches or staples, not removing the small pieces of tape over the wound, taking care of your dressing, and watching for signs of infection like pus or redness around the wound.View Original

This is a series of images showing how to care for your wound. They include washing your hands, having the doctor take out your stitches or staples, not removing the small pieces of tape over the wound, taking care of your dressing, and watching for signs of infection like pus or redness around the wound.

View Original

What care is needed at home?


  • Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
  • Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
    • When you should change your bandages
    • When you may take a bath or shower
    • If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
    • When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
  • Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
  • Get lots of rest. Avoid tiring activities.
  • Do not smoke.

What follow-up care is needed?


  • Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
  • If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
  • Ask your doctor about heart or lung rehab to help you gain more strength.

What drugs may be needed?


The doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Help with pain
  • Fight an infection
  • Prevent blood clots

Will physical activity be limited?


You may have to limit your activities for a while. Talk with your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚  

What problems could happen?


  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Injury to heart, arteries, or nerves
  • Injury to esophagus

When do I need to call the doctor?


  • Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal.
  • Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
  • Trouble breathing
  • Coughing up blood
  • Pain that does not go away with drugs

Helpful tips


Let airport personnel know if you have chest metal plates or screws before going through security. ‚  

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving to you. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that might have been a little confusing. Before you go home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my surgery.
  • I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
  • I can tell you what I will do if I have fever, redness, or warmth around my wound.

Where can I learn more?


American College of Surgeons ‚  
https://www.facs.org/~/media/files/education/patient%20ed/lungbooklet.ashx ‚  

Last Reviewed Date


2015-09-28 ‚  

List_set bdysylist


  • Respiratory

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

Copyright


Copyright ‚ © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved. ‚  
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