Guest guest Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 While this is a bit delayed, I wanted to comment that Dr. Bridwell ( Jewish in St. Louis) keeps his patients on TPN (IV or total parenteral nutrition) for quite awhile. I was on it for 11 days the first round (my second surgery was scheduled to be anterior and I do believe this is why they left me on the TPN) and had nothing but ice chips. I didn't get hungry until about day nine. After the anterior surgery, I was on TPN again for five days, I believe. I was switched to real food the day before I left the hospital (jello the day before that). After following revision patients for the past year and a half, I have noted that those that begin eating right after surgery experience nausea far more frequently than those who don't. I don't know what the drawbacks to TPN are, if any, but it does seem odd to me that it is not standard procedure after revision surgery. I don't understand why everyone that doesn't have scarring issues doesn't get a central line (a.k.a. port or IV cathetar) either. I've heard too many horror stories about collapsed blown out veins. In my opinion, it is worth discussing both the option of a central line AND TPN with you surgeon before revision surgery. Additionally, I highly recommend going into surgery with your colon " cleaned out " (far enough in advance to avoid potential problems) so that you don't have to suffer unnecessarily afterwards. kam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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