Postoperative care and pain relief in vascular surgery

Abstract

Postoperative care of vascular surgical patients involves the same principles as the care of any surgical patient and includes: • oxygenation • maintenance of a stable cardiovascular system • fluid balance and urine output • pain relief • deciding on the appropriate level of postoperative care. Many vascular operations are prolonged and may involve large blood losses. When combined with the generally poor medical condition of the average vascular patient, this predisposes to a high rate of postoperative complications. Meticulous attention to detail in the postoperative management of surgical patients can help to avoid the slow decline in which one complication follows another leading to admission to ICU, multi-organ failure and death.