Medical Surgical Nursing

promptly any changes in the amount or characteristics of drainage. Assistance in
securing the appropriate dressings reduces the patient's anxiety about going home
with the drain or tube still in place. (See Chart 40-3 for more details.)

Patient Education

Managing Self-Care After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Resuming Activity

 Begin light exercise (walking) immediately.

 Take a shower or bath after 1 or 2 days.

 Drive a car after 3 or 4 days.

 Avoid lifting objects exceeding 5 pounds after surgery, usually for 1 week.

 Resume sexual activity when desired.

Caring for the Wound

 Check puncture site daily for signs of infection.

 Wash puncture site with mild soap and water.

 Allow special adhesive strips on the puncture site to fall off. Do not pull them

off.

Resuming Eating

 Resume your normal diet.

 If you had fat intolerance before surgery, gradually add fat back into your diet

in small increments.

Managing Pain

 You may experience pain or discomfort in your right shoulder from the gas

used to inflate your abdominal area during surgery. Sitting upright in bed or a

chair, walking, or use of a heating pad may ease the discomfort.

 Take analgesics as needed and as prescribed. Report to surgeon if pain is

unrelieved even with analgesic use.

Managing Follow-Up Care

 Make an appointment with your surgeon for 7 to 10 days after discharge.

 Call your surgeon if you experience any signs or symptoms of infection at or

around the puncture site: redness, tenderness, swelling, heat, or drainage.

 Call your surgeon if you experience a fever of 37.7°C (100°F) or more for 2

consecutive days.

 Call your surgeon if you develop nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.