Revealed! Why do doctors always urge you to "move" after gastrointestinal surgery?

Author: Wang Jing, East China Hospital, Fudan University

Reviewer: Wei Ye, Chief Physician, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University

Since patients who have undergone gastrointestinal surgery often have drainage tubes placed on their bodies, coupled with the pain of the wound, many patients are afraid to move after surgery, and are even hesitant to turn over in bed. However, doing so is not conducive to postoperative recovery. For patients who have undergone gastrointestinal surgery, it is crucial to start moving as soon as possible.

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So what are the benefits of early mobilization after gastrointestinal surgery? When should you start mobilizing? What activities can you do? What are the precautions? Let's reveal them one by one.

1. Benefits of early mobilization after gastrointestinal surgery

1. Improve blood circulation: Early postoperative activities can promote venous return in the lower limbs, allowing the heart to pump blood more powerfully, thereby ensuring smooth blood circulation throughout the body.

2. Promote gastrointestinal function recovery: Early postoperative activities can reduce discomfort symptoms such as gastrointestinal bloating and nausea, promote intestinal gas discharge and defecation as soon as possible, and help patients transition from liquid and semi-liquid diets to normal diets.

3. Reduce the occurrence of pulmonary complications: Early postoperative activities can promote breathing and lung expansion. Increasing vital capacity helps reduce the occurrence of pulmonary complications such as pneumonia and atelectasis.

4. Prevent intestinal adhesion: Early postoperative activity can accelerate gastrointestinal motility and reduce the occurrence of intestinal adhesion.

5. Prevention of thrombosis: For patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery, especially high-risk groups such as elderly patients with a history of cardiovascular disease or cancer patients, early postoperative activities can reduce their risk of thrombosis.

2. Methods and timing of early mobilization after gastrointestinal surgery

1. Bed exercises: After waking up from surgery, the patient can perform ankle pump exercises for both lower limbs, hip lifting exercises, and turning over in bed.

(1) Ankle pump exercise for both lower limbs: The patient lies flat on the bed, relaxes the lower limbs, and performs ankle dorsiflexion (pull the toes toward oneself as much as possible), plantar flexion (push the toes away from oneself as much as possible), and circumferential movement (rotate the ankle clockwise first, then rotate it counterclockwise). Each of the three movements is maintained for 3 to 5 seconds, and then relax. This is one set of movements. Practice for 5 minutes each time, and try to practice once an hour when you are awake.

(2) Hip-lifting exercise: The patient lies flat on the bed, bends his knees, lifts his hips, holds for a few seconds, and then slowly lowers his hips. Do this for 3 minutes each time, 5 to 6 times a day.

2. Deep breathing exercise: 2 hours after surgery, patients can do deep breathing exercises regularly, slowly and deeply inhale through the nose, let the abdomen expand outward, not the chest. When exhaling, shrink the lips into a fish mouth shape and exhale slowly through the lips.

3. Bedside activities: On the first day after surgery, patients are encouraged to do bedside activities. The order of activities is: raise the head of the bed (if there is an abdominal band, it is necessary to first confirm that it is properly bandaged and fixed), sit up on the bed with the help of the bed rails with the help of nurses or family members (half a minute), let the legs hang down beside the bed (half a minute), stand by the bed (about 1 to 2 minutes, pay attention to observe whether there is dizziness, palpitations and other discomfort), first walk with the help of the bed, then walk away from the bed, and gradually transition to outdoor activities. 3 to 4 times/day, 10 to 15 minutes/time.

3. Precautions for early activities after gastrointestinal surgery

1. Activities should be gradual, in small amounts and multiple times, so that the patient does not feel tired.

2. Before any activity, you must ensure that all types of catheters on your body are properly fixed, and a nurse should help you fix the catheter before getting out of bed.

3. When exercising, you should stand up slowly and avoid jumping up. If you experience dizziness, palpitations, sweating, severe pain in the wound, or other discomfort, you should stop the activity and lie down to rest to prevent accidents.

4. The patient must be accompanied by at least one person when moving around. Wear non-slip slippers when walking and be supported by a nurse or family member.

5. Pay attention to environmental safety. If you find any wet spots on the ground, notify the staff in time to deal with it.

6. When walking in the corridor or getting up from the toilet, patients can use the handrails on the wall to assist in movement.

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