What to Expect After Lung Surgery

After your lung surgery is complete you will be taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. Your anesthesia will be wearing off and you will be monitored for a few hours. You will have a chest tube coming out of your side between your ribs and will begin to feel some pain. Likely you will also have a urinary catheter and various monitors for your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation. Some people experience nausea after general anesthesia.

After you have recovered from anesthesia you will be able to move to your hospital room. Many patients will be on a cardiac telemetry unit that provides closer monitoring during the hospital stay. You can expect on average to be in the hospital 3 to 7 days. You can expect to have a chest tube during most of this time. While in the hospital you will be working on your recovery. Diligent use of the incentive spirometer and other breathing exercises and walking will aid in your recovery. Many patient’s experience constipation after surgery and you may be given stool softeners or laxatives to help with your bowel movements.

Lung surgery is a major surgery for your body. Do not be surprised if you feel tired afterwards. Although your surgery may have been done with small incisions it will still take your body time to recover. Continue to walk and keep up good nutrition while you recover.

Want to know more? https://ctsurgerypatients.org/before-during-and-after-surgery/after-lung-cancer-surgery