Post operative
complications

Classification
• Immediate
• Early
• Late

Immediate
• Primary bleeding
• Cardiac arrest
• Respiratory failure

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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