Your child may not be able to eat by mouth for a while after their surgery. Because nutrition is an important part of healing, your child may receive nutrition through an IV. You may hear your care team refer to this as “TPN”, or parenteral nutrition.
Your child must receive proper nutrition in order to heal well, continue to grow, and remain healthy while recovering from surgery.
A Registered Dietitian (RD) will use your child’s age, size, diagnosis, and other medical factors to determine their needs for:
- calories
- protein
- fluids
- vitamins and minerals
Once your child is able to be fed, a Speech or Occupational therapist may check to see if it is safe for them to start eating by mouth. Some patients may need to have a feeding tube for a short time. The most common feeding tube is called a nasogastric tube (NG), which is placed through the nose into the stomach.
Medicines are given either by mouth (PO), through a tube (NG, G tube), or through an intravenous (IV) line. Right after surgery, medicines are usually given through an IV. Your child may get medicine as a continuous ‘drip’ or as a single dose.
Common medicines used in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) include:
Medicines to help the heart work better (inotropes). Examples include: epinephrine, milrinone, calcium chloride, nitroprusside, and vasopressin.
Medicines to help relieve pain and keep your child comfortable after surgery. Examples include: Tylenol, morphine. During the first 2-3 days after surgery, your child’s pain is typically the strongest and most children will need continuous pain medicine. After the first few days, your child’s pain will lessen and they do not need as much pain medicine. By a week after surgery, your child should have only mild discomfort.
Medicines to prevent stomach ulcers or treat acid reflux. Examples include: Zantac, Protonix, Prevacid.
Antibiotics to prevent infection. Examples include: cefuroxime, cefazolin, vancomycin, and clindamycin.
Medications to prevent or treat blood clots. Examples include: heparin, Lovenox, and aspirin.
Diuretics to remove extra body water and help the heart and lungs work better. Examples include: Lasix, Diuril, Aldactone.
Your child’s care team will choose the best medical therapy for your child. If your child receives medicines prior to surgery, the care team will decide when and if to restart those medicines after surgery.