How to deal with respiratory complications after lung cancer surgery

Surgery is the preferred method for treating lung cancer, but due to the large surgical trauma and painful wounds, patients cannot cough effectively. Therefore, respiratory complications such as sputum retention, atelectasis, pneumonia, and respiratory insufficiency often occur after surgery. Therefore, timely care is required to relieve the patient's pain.

1. Let patients fully understand the complications after lung cancer surgery, adjust their body and mind, and actively cooperate with doctors' treatment.

2. Adequate preparation can maximize the success rate of surgery and reduce the occurrence of complications. Active preparation should be made before surgery.

3. Correct coughing and expectoration after lung cancer surgery is directly related to the success of the operation. After the operation, the patient should be encouraged to take deep breaths and cough hard to effectively expectorate. The patient should relax his shoulders, lean forward, take a deep breath, and use the strength of the chest and abdomen to make the strongest cough. The effective coughing action is the sound of the chest vibrating when coughing. The patient should cough actively and cough out phlegm at any time if there is phlegm. If there is no phlegm, cough and expectorate once every 2-3 hours, for about 5 minutes each time.

4. If the patient has difficulty expectorating, nasal catheter suction or bronchoscope suction can be performed.

5. If patients with lung cancer develop pneumonia after surgery, they should actively receive anti-inflammatory treatment to avoid infection that is detrimental to recovery.

6. When respiratory failure occurs after lung cancer surgery, mechanical assisted breathing can be performed according to the patient's specific circumstances.