title: Principles of post-operative patient care.
abstract: Surgery causes physiological stress on the body and carries inherent risks such as shock and haemorrhage. This article discusses cardiogenic and hypovolaemic shock and outlines the principles of safe and effective post-operative care, including recognising hypovolaemia, maintaining fluid balance and administering pain control.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Edge Hill College of Higher Education, Liverpool. Hughese@edgehill.ac.uk
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000451:nursing; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012769:Shock / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*