Post-oPerative care key to maintaining Patient’s health, says doctor

Organ transplant does not stop on the day after the surgery is completed, according to Dr Fadi Hamed, who heads intensive care unit (ICU) at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD).

“The success of the surgery depends on the post-operative care, identifying any early complications that can happen after the surgery are crucial,” Dr Fadi Hamed told Khaleej Times.

He said once the patients have their organ transplant, they are transferred to the ICU and they begin physiotherapy the following day.

Dr Hamed said the patient undergoes a range of tests to ensure there are no infections or complications such as rejection of the organ.

The relation between the medical team with the patient before the surgery, on the day of the surgery, and after surgery is key.

The expected course to be out of the ICU is between five to 15 days with a smooth post-operative course.

After taking the patient out of the ICU and into the regular nursing floor, they will continue their recovery phase.

“This is where the teaching happens about their medications, they will continue to have their physical therapy, and within 10-14 days the patients are expected to go home.”

Dr Hamed said there is “a perfect kind of medical performance,” because the patients and their families “see and get to know” the team that are involved in the surgery and nursing care, around six months to one year from the evaluation process.

He said most transplants have a routine follow-up in the first year. However, after one year of the transplant, the patients are seen between three to six months, and after three years of the surgery, the patients are seen anywhere between six to 12 months, when the organ function is checked.

“The whole idea is that the medical management does not stop once the patients are discharged.

“To have a successful programme, you need to have a pre-transplant process, an acute post-transplant process and a long-term post transplant process.”