What to Expect After Liver Surgery

Your Checklist

Recovery Milestones

This information is meant to give you an idea of what to expect after your surgery. Most patients will follow this time course. Because everyone is not the same, your recovery could be different. Chart your progress during your hospital stay!

Day of Surgery

Diet:
Nothing to eat or drink

Activity:
Sit at the side of the bed.
Maybe walk to the doorway with assistance.

Tubes:
Urinary catheter
JP drain (temporary drain near the liver which exits on your abdomen to collect extra fluid or bile)
IV catheter is in a vein to give you fluid
Oxygen tubes may be in your nose
Pressure stockings or “SCDs” will be worn when you are in bed to prevent blood clots

Pain Control:
There are two primary pain-control schedules:

You will be given scheduled pain medicine through your IV catheter. The nurse will come in every one or two hours to administer this medication to you. Remember to take your pain medicine before walking or coughing to make this easier. Walking and coughing prevent complications and help to speed your recovery after surgery.
You will be given pain medications through your IV catheter. You can administer this yourself by pressing a button the nurse will give you. The pump will be programmed so that you will not be able to overdose yourself on pain medications. Remember to press the button before walking or coughing to make this easier.

Day 1

Diet:
Hard candy

Activity:
Walk in hallway with assistance 4 times
Cough and deep breathe; incentive spirometry every hour while awake

Pain Control:
You will be given a different type of medication today to help control the pain that will be scheduled every 6 hours. You can still take the narcotic pain medications as needed, but must ask the nurse for it.

Day 2

Diet:
Hard candy

Activity:
Walk in hallway with assistance 4 times
Cough and deep breathe; incentive spirometry every hour while awake

Tubes:
Foley catheter may be removed

Dressing:
Removed

Day 3

Diet:
Hard candy
Sips of water if you are passing gas

Activity:
Walk in hallway with assistance 4 times
Cough and deep breathe; incentive spirometry every hour while awake

Tubes:
Foley catheter is removed if not done yesterday
JP drain is removed if no bile, otherwise will continue to have drain in place until the output is no longer green

Day 4

Diet:
Clear liquid diet

Pain Control:
Begin oral pain medicine if tolerating diet

Activity:
Walk in hallway independently
Cough and deep breathe; incentive spirometry every hour while awake

Day 5

Diet:
Solid foods (if tolerated clear liquids yesterday without nausea or abdominal bloating)

Pain Control:
Oral pain medicine.

Activity:
Walk in hallway independently
Cough and deep breathe every hour while awake
Teaching: Review post op teaching sheet
Drain teaching if drain in place
Wound care if needed