Head and Neck Oncology Surgery - What to Expect During Your Hospital Stay (The James)

Head and Neck Oncology Surgery - What to Expect During Your Hospital Stay (The James)

 

Your Care Plan

We have created this care plan to help you and your family know what to expect after surgery. Changes may be made based on your needs and recovery.

Each Day During Your Hospital Stay

  • Ask your nurse and doctor about how you are doing.
  • Ask for pain medicine before your pain gets out of control. Medicines will be ordered to help control your pain around the clock, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), gabapentin (Neurontin), celecoxib (Celebrex) and ibuprofen (Motrin).
  • Be active. Your health care team will help you up to sit in a chair the evening of your surgery, and they will have you walk starting the day after surgery. The goal is to walk 4 times a day and increase the distance you walk every day. You will be seen by a physical therapist and an occupational therapist to help you get stronger.
  • Use your breathing exerciser (incentive spirometer) 10 times every hour while you are awake.
  • Wear your compression wraps on your legs to help prevent blood clots. You may also be given medicine to help prevent blood clots.
  • You will be asked if you are passing gas and having bowel movements.
  • A speech therapist (SLP) will work with you to help you with any issues you have swallowing, speech and voice changes, or problems understanding and thinking clearly.
  • A registered dietitian (RD) may work with you to make sure you are getting enough food and fluids.

Day of Surgery

  • You will have a tube that goes into your stomach. You will be fed through this tube. These tube feedings will start the night of your surgery.
  • Your health care team will help you sit in a chair.
  • You may have a catheter to help empty your bladder. This is often removed the morning after surgery.
  • You may have drains and wound dressings after your surgery. Your health care team will teach you how to manage them.

Day 1 After Surgery

  • You will be helped out of bed to sit in a chair for 2 to 4 hours.
  • Your health care team will help you walk 2 to 4 times.
  • When you are getting enough fluids from your tube feedings, your IV fluids will be stopped. Your IV site will then be capped until it is removed the day you leave the hospital.
  • You will meet with a case manager to make plans for your discharge.
  • Your health care team will teach you how to manage your care for when you leave the hospital.

Day 2 After Surgery

  • You will sit in the chair for 4 to 6 hours.
  • Your health care team will help you walk 4 to 6 times.
  • If you are taking prescription pain medicine, you may need a stool softener. Tell your nurse if you feel you need to have a bowel movement.
  • Your health care team will check how you are doing and begin plans for your discharge.

Day 3 After Surgery Until Discharge

  • Continue to increase your time out of bed.
  • If you have a tracheostomy tube, it may be changed.
  • Your drains may be removed.
  • You will learn how to take care of your wounds, drains and airway at home.
  • Your health care team will check how you are doing and complete plans for your discharge.

Getting Ready for Discharge

The length of your hospital stay will depend on your type of surgery and your recovery after surgery. You will be ready to leave the hospital when you have done the following:

☐ Your pain is under control when taking pain pills.

☐ You do not show any signs or have symptoms of an infection.

☐ You know what your plan is for discharge.

☐ Any services, equipment, or supplies that you need have been set up.

Day of Discharge

Your health care team will review the following with you:

  • How to care for your incision(s), wounds, drains and airway
  • Any activity restrictions
  • Your medicines, including, how much and when they should be taken, and any side effects they may cause
  • Your follow-up appointments
  • When and who to call if you have problems

You will be given directions in your After Visit Summary. You may also have prescriptions that you need to have filled at the pharmacy.

If you have questions or concerns about your surgery or your care after leaving the hospital, you may call:

  • Head and Neck Clinic at 614-293-8074

After hours, and on weekends or holidays, call the hospital operator at 614-293-8000. Tell the operator your surgeon’s name and they will have a member of the on-call team help you.

If you have an emergency, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

 

 

© June 9, 2021. The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care.

For more health information, call the Patient and Family Resource Center at 614-366-0602 or visit cancer.osu.edu/PFRC