Discharge Instructions - Cranial Operations

Activity

It is not uncommon to feel tired after a craniotomy. Increase your activity as tolerated. Do not lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk. Avoid vigorous exercise. Do not bend at the waist beyond what is necessary to wash your face. Periodic walking is good exercise. Do not drive or operate machinery till your surgeon clears you to do so.

Medications

Take all of your postoperative prescribed medications as ordered including you regular medications. Follow the tapering schedule of steroids (decadron / dexamethasone) if you were given one. Check with your surgeon before taking Aspirin, OTC (over the counter) pain medications, Coumadin or other blood thinners. You may use OTC stool softeners or laxatives if you have difficulty moving your bowels.

Personal Hygiene

You may shower 72 hrs after your surgery. Wash gently around the incision. Do not scrub or soak incisions under water, such as in a bathtub, hot tub or swimming pool, until given permission by your surgeon. Leave all suture lines open to air. Do not apply any cream, antibiotics or other ointment till you see your surgeon for the first postoperative visit.

Call our office if you have any of the following symptoms:

Oral temperature over 101 degrees.
Any drainage from your incision.
If the skin edges of your incision start coming apart.
If you develop any new symptom such as weakness, numbness, double or blurred vision, slurred speech or language difficulties, loss of balance or incoordination
Increased fatigue, increase in sleeping associated with difficulty in waking up.
Persistent nausea and/or vomiting.
Worsening headache, not relieved by Tylenol.
Any type of seizure activity.
Pain in the calf muscles or chest
Shortness of breath

If you have doubts please call, one of the doctors is on call 24/7.

Discharge Instructions - Cranial Operations

Call our office if you have any of the following symptoms:

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