Autologous Rib Cartilage Harvest Post-op Guidelines

Instructions

• Have someone drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1-2 days.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Follow balanced diet.
• Decreased activity may promote constipation, so you may want to add more raw fruit to your diet, and be sure to increase fluid intake.
• Take pain medication as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin.
• Take any antibiotics as instructed. It helps to eat cultured yogurt or over the counter Acidophilus tablets while on antibiotics to minimize intestinal side effects.
• You may be prescribed steroid tablets to minimize post op swelling. If so, take them as instructed on the packet. Note that steroids can make you feel anxious; this is a common side effect.
• Dr. Khosh may instruct you to take the herbal supplement Arnica-Montana. This is intended to minimize bruising.
• Do not drink alcohol when taking pain medications.
• Even when not taking pain medications, no alcohol for 2 weeks.
• If you are taking vitamins with iron, resume these as tolerated.
• Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increases the risk of complications.

Activities

• Stay in bed with your head elevated (except for going to the bathroom) for the first afternoon and night.
• On the first post-operative day, you can begin walking more; this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots. Make sure to take deep breaths and inflate your lungs fully.
• Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications (narcotics).
• You can return to work in 1-2 weeks.
• Avoid strenuous activities or any activity that increases your blood pressure for 2-3 weeks.
• Avoid body contact sports for 2 months.

Incision Care

• You may shower on the first post op day. Keep the clear plastic tape and the underlying gauze intact.
• Remove the clear tape and gauze after 2 days but leave the white tape on the skin in place.
• The white tape will be removed from the skin during your post op visit.

What To Expect

• The rib harvest site will be fairly numb for the first 48 hours after surgery.
• You may experience more pain in the chest area after 48 hours. Take pain medicine as necessary.
• The chest incision site may be tender for several weeks.
• You may resume non-contact physical activity within 2 weeks.
• Most swelling and bruising should disappear within 2 weeks.
• Some numbness may be present around the operative areas.
• For the first 7 to 14 days you may experience some discomfort with breathing.

Appearance

• The surgical incision will become progressively less noticeable.
• Final results will appear within 6 months.

Follow-Up Care

• The tape on top of the chest incision will be removed during your first post op visit.

When To Call

• If you have increased swelling or bruising.
• If you have any breathing difficulty (if severe, you may need to present to the nearest emergency room)
• If you have increased redness along the incision. This may be indicative of an infection.
• If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
• If you have any side effects to medications; such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting.
• If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees.
• If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
• If you have bleeding from the incision.
• If you have any concerns at all you may reach Dr. Khosh at (212) 339-9988