Handling UAS (Upper Abdominal Surgery) Patient

• Handling the UAS (Upper Abdominal Surgery) Patient:

  • Abdominal incisions are the most painful
  • Ensure patient has adequate analgesia on board before moving
  • Epidural – test lower limb strength in bed prior to standing
  • Give clear instructions and explanations before you move the patient – they will be anxious
  • Try to appear confident and in control
  • Lots of reassurance and praise required
  • Prepare the area e.g. move furniture, organise lines and drains etc.
• Handling the UAS Patient - Lying to sitting in bed:

  • Bend both knees
  • Encourage pt to support wound
  • Keep chin tucked into chest
  • Therapist assists with hand over upper back
  • As sit up straighten out legs
  • Electric bed - use the electric bed to raise the head of the bed (patient can control)
• Handling the UAS Patient - Sitting to lying:

  • Pt to support wound
  • Chin tuck
  • Bend knees up as they go flat
  • Support upper back and encourage pt to push into your hand to avoid using eccentric abdominals
  • Electric bed - use the electric bed to lower the head of the bed (patient can control)
• Handling the UAS Patient - Lying to sitting on the edge of the bed:

  • Raise head of the bed first (electric bed)
  • Assist pt to roll onto their side
  • Chin tuck throughout the whole procedure
  • Pt supports own wound with 1 hand as they roll
  • Once in sidelying bend both knees up and take legs over the edge of the bed (slowly)
  • Pt then puts 1 arm around therapist’s waist
  • Pt’s other arm supports wound
  • Therapist slowly assists pt to sit up
• Handling The UAS Patient - Sitting back in a chair:

  • Get pt to actively push into the therapist’s hand on their upper back