Care After Donor Surgery
After surgery, you'll spend several hours in
the recovery room until you are fully awake. The
intravenous
(IV) and catheter will remain in place
overnight. Once your condition is stable, you'll
return to your hospital room. Family and friends
may visit you there.
A nurse will check your temperature, blood pressure
and pulse often. She or he will also check the
bandages covering the incision. You'll undergo
blood tests to check your kidney function. You'll
be reminded to cough and breathe deeply to help
clear your lungs of secretions that may have
accumulated during anesthesia.
It's also important
for you to move your legs frequently while you're
in bed. The day after surgery, you'll be encouraged
to get out of bed (with assistance) and walk
as soon as possible. This helps prevent postoperative
complications. You will also start eating that
day.
In most cases, donor patients experience discomfort
in the incision area. You will receive pain medication
for the first few days to relieve this pain.
Most donors are in the hospital for two to three
days. A return office visit usually occurs three
to four weeks following discharge. You will be
given phone numbers to contact the transplant
team if you have any problems following discharge.
Reviewed by Robert
Grossman, MD
Last updated January 2007
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