Patient Education Bariatric Surgery Patient Education | Page 8

What to Expect After Surgery:
Foley Catheter
While you’re under anesthesia, a urinary catheter may be inserted to
monitor your urine output. If inserted, the catheter will be removed the
morning after surgery if you’re producing enough urine.
Blood Clot Prevention
You’re at risk for blood clots for 6 weeks after a surgical procedure.
To prevent them:
• You’ll begin walking 4 hours after your surgery and at least every
4 hours during the day. Continue this each day for 6 weeks after
discharge.
• You’ll wear compression boots at all times while you’re in bed starting
in the operating room.
• You’ll be started on anticoagulant medications in the pre-operative
surgery holding area and continue taking them for at least 30 days
after surgery.
If you do have a blood clot, you may experience:
• Sharp pain in your leg, a change in color, swelling, redness or warmth.
If you have any of these symptoms, go to the Emergency Department.
• Sudden shortness of breath, very rapid breathing or sharp chest pain.
If you have any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1.
Blood Glucose Monitoring
The stress of surgery can make your blood sugars rise, and high blood
sugars slow the healing process. That’s why your surgeon may order an IV
drip of regular insulin. Regular insulin works within a short time to regulate
your blood sugar and help you heal. If your blood sugar is high after
surgery, we may perform blood glucose testing as often as every 2 hours.
If your glucose is within an acceptable range, we’ll begin checking it every
6 hours after that. The better controlled your blood glucose levels are, the
less likely you’ll be at risk of complications like infection and poor wound
healing.
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