Early ambulation after surgery | Patient mobilization procedure | Made Easy | Nursing Procedure.

Summary

This video discusses the importance of early ambulation after surgery, focusing on its benefits like preventing post-operative complications, improving circulation, and promoting faster recovery. It also covers the potential risks of prolonged immobility, such as deep vein thrombosis and pneumonia. The video provides a step-by-step guide for progressive ambulation after surgery, from assessing the patient's readiness to assisting with standing, walking, and monitoring progress. By encouraging early movement, patients experience better outcomes, reduced hospital stays, and a quicker return to independence.

Takeaways

• 😀 Early ambulation after surgery helps promote faster recovery and reduces postoperative complications.
• 😀 It prevents conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), pneumonia, urinary retention, pressure ulcers, and muscle weakness.
• 😀 Early ambulation enhances circulation and improves blood flow throughout the body.
• 😀 It improves gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, and respiratory functions.
• 😀 Early movement can relieve pain and boost a patient's outlook, promoting a sense of independence.
• 😀 It helps reduce the length of hospital stays by speeding up recovery.
• 😀 Prolonged immobility can lead to serious complications, such as blood clots (DVT/PE), pneumonia, and muscle weakness.
• 😀 Immobility can cause atelectasis (collapsed lung) and pneumonia due to impaired lung expansion and secretions clearance.
• 😀 Early ambulation preserves muscle mass, prevents deconditioning, and promotes better strength and endurance.
• 😀 Regular movement reduces the risk of pressure ulcers by promoting circulation to vulnerable skin areas.

Q & A

What is the importance of early ambulation after surgery?

Early ambulation after surgery helps in promoting faster recovery and reducing the risk of postoperative complications such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and muscle weakness.

What are some benefits of early ambulation after surgery?

Benefits include prevention of complications like DVT, pulmonary embolism, and pressure ulcers; improvement in circulation; relief from pain; and better gastrointestinal, respiratory, genitourinary, and musculoskeletal functions. It also promotes a sense of independence and shortens hospital stay.

What complications arise from prolonged immobility after surgery?

Prolonged immobility can lead to complications such as DVT, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, muscle weakness, pressure ulcers, and deconditioning. It can also cause impaired lung function and blood clot formation.

How does early ambulation reduce the risk of DVT and pulmonary embolism?

Early ambulation promotes blood flow, prevents blood pooling (venous stasis), and reduces the risk of clot formation, which could potentially travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism.

How does early ambulation help prevent pneumonia and lung collapse (atelectasis)?

Early ambulation encourages deep breathing and effective clearance of pulmonary secretions, which prevents lung collapse and reduces the risk of pneumonia by enhancing lung expansion.

What is the role of early ambulation in preventing muscle weakness and deconditioning?

Early ambulation preserves muscle mass and strength, preventing muscle atrophy and functional decline. It helps in promoting faster recovery of mobility and functional independence.

How does early ambulation prevent pressure ulcers?

Early ambulation reduces prolonged pressure on bony prominences, promotes circulation to the skin, and prevents the development of pressure ulcers.

What are the key steps involved in progressive ambulation after surgery?

The key steps include assessing patient readiness, encouraging range of motion exercises, helping the patient sit on the edge of the bed, preventing orthostatic hypotension, assisting with standing and supported ambulation, gradually increasing walking distance, and continuous monitoring and documentation.

What should be assessed before beginning progressive ambulation after surgery?

The patient's vital signs, pain level, level of consciousness, surgical site, tubes and drains, and overall condition should be assessed to determine readiness for ambulation.

How can orthostatic hypotension be prevented during early ambulation?

Orthostatic hypotension can be prevented by helping the patient gradually transition from lying down to sitting up (dangling). This helps the body adjust to an upright position, reducing the risk of a sudden drop in blood pressure and related symptoms like dizziness or fainting.