Surgery is an important event in a patient's life.As a surgeon,I not only have the important task of selecting the right patient,explaining to the patients the risks & complications of surgery but also to impress upon them the need of post operative care.There are lots of guidelines & evidence based indications to decide for a surgery.We provide detailed information for the patient & family what to expect during surgery.Lets go through the journey of undergoing surgery in a hospital briefly..
Let me share a prayer to impress upon readers the trust the patients put into the surgeons while going through an operation...
Prayer Before Surgery
"Loving Father, I entrust myself to your care this day; guide with wisdom and skill the minds and hands of the medical people who minister in your Name, and grant that every cause of illness be removed, I may be restored to soundness of health and learn to live in more perfect harmony with you and with those around me. Through Jesus Christ. Amen."
On the day of surgery,we meet the patient & family before taking them to the operation theatre. Post operative pain care is very important along with dressings & other medications.There is also special dietary need in every patient.I give a detailed description of how the surgery went to the patient & family.
However sometimes while doing all the above ,we may miss to impress the need of regular post operative follow up.If the patient does not stay local,it should be organised where he stays or call patient at appropriate intervals.
In ENT,there are some surgeries like tonsillectomy,myringoplasty where just a couple of out patient follow ups are fine.However most of other operations like mastoid surgery,nasal surgeries like endoscopic sinus surgery need further attention.
Lets talk about simple surgery like Septoplasty. Usually it does not need follow up of months but first few weeks are important.Post operative nasal suctions are necessary for healing.It prevents adhesions & infections.Nasal douchings or cleaning is also explained to patients.
Another nasal surgery like endoscopic sinus surgery may need longer follow up.Especially if its done for nasal polyposis,patient may need long term nasal treatments also.Thus the indication for surgery also decides the follow up post operative.Its the same for mastoid surgeries.Post operative cavity care should be stressed upon.
Surgeries like Cochlear Implantation are life long commitments for the reasons that its a new technology & complicated procedure.The importance of auditory verbal therapy I have stressed upon in a previous blog.
The success of surgery & appropriate healing not only depends on the operation itself but also on post operative care.
We do our best with all the wisdom & knowledge & pray to Almighty to skill our hands & minds.
Sharing the picture of Ayudha Puja in our department.Similar prayers are offered in the operation theatres where we express our gratitude to God for granting us the tools to fulfill our duties.
"Be it the plough, be it a vegetable cutter or be it Soorya Kiran Air Craft, the Ayudha Puja is a worship of whatever implements one may use in day-to-day life.If one can make a conscious effort to see the divine in the tools and objects one uses each day, it will help one to see one’s work as an offering to God.""
2 comments:
Helpful article from you Doctor. Appreciate your work educating the masses. Have been your patient operated upon few months back and can certainly acknowledge the importance of post operative care. Thanks a ton for all your service.
Great work...! I read your blog, you share a helpful post About ENT .
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