VEPTR/Spine Growing Instrumentation Procedures Clinical Pathway, ICU and Inpatient – Discharge Instructions

VEPTR/Spine Growing Instrumentation Procedures Clinical Pathway — ICU and Inpatient

Discharge Instructions

  • Remove surgical dressing in 7 days. Dressing should be changed when soiled with feces or urine, or no longer intact.
  • If the child wears diapers and the incision is near the diaper area, cover the incision after bathing. Change the cover every 3 days after initial dressing change through POD #14. May shower, facing the shower, 7 days after discharge. Until then, may sponge bathe around incision, keeping incision dry. Do not submerge the incisions until well healed and all Steri-Strips have fallen off. Keep nails trimmed and cleaned. Encourage child not to disrupt the incision.
  • If fever > 101.3°F, drainage from incision site, increased redness or swelling at incision site, increased pain, call:
    • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Center for Thoracic Insufficiency (CTIS) cell phone: 215-410-2086.
    • Evenings, nights and weekends: Call the hospital operator at 215-590-1000 (ask them to page the Ortho resident on call).
  • Limit activities based on pain.
  • Insertion or revision procedure with new proximal rib anchors: no lifting under armpits, pulling by arms, lifting arms bilaterally overhead for 6 wks.
  • Follow-up per discharge instructions and immediately prior to next scheduled surgery.