Warning signs after surgery: call your doctor today

NICE guidelines specifically recommends giving patients clear advice on wound care, recognising surgical-site infection, and whom to contact after discharge. [Surgical site infections: prevention and treatment - NICE] AFTER YOUR OPERATION What to expect and when to seek help? These are general instructions after surgery. Your surgeon's specific instructions take priority, particularly regarding wound dressings, bathing, diet, lifting/activity, drains and medications. ✅ Things to do • Do not remove stitches, clips/staples or drains yourself unless specifically instructed. • Follow the instructions you were given about your dressing and when you may shower. • Wash your hands before touching an exposed wound or changing a dressing. • Keep active with gentle, regular walking as advised. Avoid prolonged periods in bed. • Continue any breathing exercises you were taught. • Drink adequate fluids unless your medical team has restricted your intake. • Take prescribed medication as directed. • Do not put creams, powders, herbs, antiseptics or other substances on the wound unless advised by your healthcare team. 🟢 You may experience in the first few days- maybe normal Some patients experience: • Tiredness or weakness • Mild pain or discomfort around the operation site • Mild swelling or bruising around the wound • A sore or dry throat after a general anaesthetic • Constipation, particularly when taking opioid pain medicines • Temporary reduction in appetite 🚨 RED FLAGS AFTER SURGERY CALL EMERGENCY SERVICES / GO TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY Seek urgent emergency assessment for: Breathing/ circulation problems • New or severe shortness of breath • Chest pain • Fainting/collapse • Severe difficulty breathing • New confusion or being very difficult to wake • Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding Possible blood clot Seek urgent assessment for new one-sided calf/leg pain or swelling, particularly if accompanied by chest pain, breathlessness, coughing blood, fainting or a very fast heartbeat. ☎️ CONTACT YOUR SURGEON URGENTLY Possible infection: • Fever, especially when persistent or accompanied by feeling increasingly unwell • Chills or rigors • Increasing redness, warmth or swelling around the wound • Wound pain that is getting worse rather than better • Yellow/green or foul-smelling discharge • Wound edges separating or the wound opening NB: Increasing pain, spreading redness, pus/discharge, persistent fever and wound dehiscence are recognised features of surgical-site infection. [Surgical Site Infection - Clinical Features - TeachMeSurgery] Bleeding Seek assessment for: • Bleeding that does not stop • Dressings becoming soaked with fresh blood • Significant bleeding from a surgical drain • Vomiting blood • Passing significant amounts of blood from the rectum • New black, tar-like stools After abdominal or bowel surgery Contact the surgical team urgently for: • Severe or progressively worsening abdominal pain • Increasing abdominal swelling/distension • Repeated vomiting • Unable to keep fluids down • Abdominal swelling/vomiting together with failure to pass wind or stool • Persistent or bloody diarrhoea • New yellowing of the eyes or skin, particularly after biliary surgery • A sudden deterioration after initially recovering well 📞 WHEN YOU CALL, HAVE THIS INFORMATION READY If possible, tell the healthcare professional:  1. What operation you had and the date  2. When the problem started and whether it is worsening  3. Your temperature  4. Heart rate and blood pressure, if available  5. What the wound looks like and whether there is discharge or bleeding  6. Your pain score from 0–10 and whether prescribed pain relief is working  7. Whether you are vomiting  8. Whether you are eating and drinking  9. Your last bowel movement and whether you are passing wind, where relevant 10. Whether you are passing urine normally 11. Your current medications 12. Any allergies Note that a clear photograph of the wound may be useful. Very important If you are rapidly becoming more unwell, severely breathless, confused, collapsing, bleeding heavily or have severe chest pain, do not delay emergency care while trying to contact your surgeon.