Postmurgical

Postmurgical is an adjective describing the period after a surgical procedure or the care and considerations associated with that period. The term is closely related to postoperative and post-surgical, with postoperative being the most common in medical literature. It encompasses patient recovery, wound healing, and ongoing medical management after surgery.

Scope and timing: The immediate postoperative period covers the first 24 hours after surgery, focusing on anesthesia recovery, vital signs, and pain control. The early postoperative period extends for several days, while the late postoperative period may last weeks to months, depending on the procedure and healing requirements.

Care components: Postmurgical care typically includes several elements, such as monitoring and assessment of vital signs, wound appearance, and drains if present; pain management and antiemetic therapy; infection prevention through proper wound care and prescribed antibiotics; prevention of complications like blood clots through mobilization and, when indicated, pharmacologic prophylaxis; and planning for discharge, including activity restrictions, diet recommendations, and follow-up appointments.

Common complications and when to seek care: Potential issues after surgery include infection, wound dehiscence, hematoma, seroma, thromboembolism, atelectasis or pneumonia, ileus, and persistent pain or nausea. Seek medical attention promptly for fever, increasing redness or swelling around the incision, foul discharge, severe or worsening pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, or vomiting that persists.

See also: postoperative care, post-surgical care, wound healing, anesthesia recovery.