Common Post-operative Complications

🔑 Key Priorities

• Early recognition of deterioration

• Stabilise patient and identify treatable causes

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🧠 Team Actions

Role	Task
Team Leader	Coordinate assessment and escalation
Airway Manager	Oxygenate, monitor for obstruction
Circulation	Monitor haemodynamics, gain IV access

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🧭 Common Scenarios and Immediate Actions

1. Hypoxia: Check airway patency, oxygenate, consider CXR

2. Hypotension: IV fluids, identify cause (bleeding, sepsis, cardiogenic)

3. Oliguria: Fluid challenge, assess perfusion, check catheter

4. Agitation/Delirium: Rule out hypoxia, hypoglycaemia, pain, drugs

5. Pain: Reassess analgesia, consider PCA/nerve block

6. Nausea/Vomiting: Antiemetics, rule out obstruction or ileus

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🔄 Ideal Crisis Flow

        Postoperative Deterioration
                    ↓
     ABCs + Basic Monitoring + Examine Patient
                    ↓
    Treatable Causes: Hypoxia, Bleeding, Pain, Drugs
                    ↓
       Escalate to Surgeon or ICU as Required