Patient Education Cancer of the Pancreas: A Care Guide | Page 14

Adequate Nutrition
during surgery, to give liquid
nutrition into your small intestine
(jejunum).
• A G tube into the stomach, which
may stay in for a few weeks after
surgery.
• A Foley catheter in your bladder
to drain urine, which will be
measured.
• Pumps called SCDs (sequential
compression devices) on your feet
or calves that inflate and deflate
to help prevent blood clots from
forming.
• A device clipped on your finger
called a pulse oximeter to measure
your oxygen levels.
• If you have been losing weight,
your treatment team may decide
you need at least 1 to 2 weeks of
nutritional support before having
surgery. This will help to decrease
the risk of complications.
• Your surgeon will encourage
you to drink a special nutritional
supplement 5 days before surgery.
This will be available in the office.
• A dietitian can help with your
nutritional needs both before and
after surgery.
What to Expect
after Surgery
Managing Your Pain
You will be in the Surgical Intensive
Care Unit (SICU) at least a day or two
after surgery.
You may be helped up to a chair
the night of surgery and out of bed
several times a day starting the next
day.
This is an important part of recovery
and helps to avoid complications such
as lung congestion and blood clots in
the legs.
You may be allowed ice chips but
nothing else to eat and drink.
You may also have:
• A nasogastric tube in your nose,
which is attached to wall suction to
drain fluid from your stomach.
• Other drains, which may be
attached to a bulb suction device.
• A feeding tube that may be placed
After surgery, some pain is to be
expected while you are recovering.
Pain after surgery signals you to
be careful and avoid problems
during your recovery. You and your
healthcare team will work together
to manage your pain. There are
things that you can do to aid in your
recovery and pain management:
• Breathing exercises as instructed,
using your incentive spirometer
while splinting the surgical site
with a blanket or pillow.
• Walking in the hallway as soon as
the day after surgery.
• Sharing your pain level with your
care team.
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