The Post-operative Patient

Question 1

Mr F is a 56 year old man who had a hemicolectomy 1 day ago for bowel Ca. You are asked to review him because his blood pressure is low.
His observations are as follows:
HR 104, BP 88/60, RR 22, SpO2 95% on 3L O2, T 37.4

a) What post-op differentials are important to consider here?
b) What do you need to look for in your A-E to help differentiate between your diagnoses?

Answer 1

a) - Pneumonia, PE
- Wound infection, peritonitis

b)

Question 2

What investigations are important in the review of an unwell post-op patient?

Answer 2

-

Question 3

Which patients may need to go back to theatre?

Answer 3

-

Question 4

What are the common infection sites in post-op patients?

Answer 4

-