After gastric sleeve surgery

Recovery unit

You will wake up in the recovery unit with monitoring attached to you. You will have a cannula (drip) in your arm. Occasionally a drain (plastic tube connected to a container) will have been placed into your abdomen, and occasionally a urinary catheter (tube into the bladder) is used as well. The PCA pump can attach to your drip if required.

Further post-operative care

After you are awake and comfortable you will be transferred to the ward. Occasionally patients go to the high dependency unit (HDU) initially. Typically, patients that are larger, older, or with medical problems that need closer monitoring will go to the HDU rather than the ward. Which ever location you are in, your nurse will record your vital signs regularly and give medications to control pain or nausea. You will be encouraged to do deep breathing exercises to keep your lungs healthy, and to move into a chair.

We use several means to prevent clots forming in the legs and lungs (DVT and PE). Early mobilisation is important, and your nurse and the physio will help you with this over your stay. You will also have TED stockings on and a FlowTron machine (inflatable stockings). You will be given a blood thinning medication by injection.

You can start to suck on some ice chips or to take sips of water on your first night.