DISCHARGE PLANNING

Medication:
Furosemide 40mg IVP q 8º
Senokot 2 tab @HS
Vit. K 1 amp q 8º

Exercise:
Bedrest has traditionally been recommended for patients with ascites on the basis that upright posture increases
aldosterone levels, which is associated with sodium retention.

Treatment:
drainage of fluid from tenkoff catheter,
Venous cutdown,

Health teaching:
Teaches the patient and family about the treatment plan including the need to avoid all alcohol intake,
adhere to a low sodium diet, take medications as prescribe and check with the physician before taking
any new medications.
Patient and family teaching addresses skin care and the need to weigh the patient daily and to watch for
and report signs and symptoms of complications.

OPD follow-ups:
Patients will return to the Ambulatory Care regularly after the initial postoperative period, with the frequency of clinic
visits reduced as the patient's condition permits.
During clinic appointments, patients are seen by their Physician. Communication with the patient's family physician and
other specialists is an important component of follow-up care1

Diet:
Avoid table salt, salty foods, salted butter and margarine and all ordinary canned and frozen foods.
Include high protein foods on her diet.
The patient should make liberal use of powdered, low sodium milk and milk product.
 RECOMMENDATION
Sodium restriction is recommended for all patients with ascites.
Although dietary sodium should be restricted to levels lower than urinary
sodium excretion, sodium restriction to 2 g/day (i.e., 88 milliequivalents
per day [mEq/day]) is a realistic goal, particularly in an outpatient
setting. Patients with a baseline urinary sodium excretion >50 mEq/day
may respond to salt restriction alone. Potassium-containing salt
substitutes should be avoided because of the risk of hyperkalemia. Take
diuretics as recommended by your doctor. Diuretic medications (drugs
that cause the kidneys to excrete more sodium and water in the urine)
are often recommended as the treatment of choice (along with sodium
restriction) for ascites. Among diuretics, spironolactone (Aldactone) or
furosemide (Lasix) may be given. Patient should limit the use of all
medications including over-the-counter drugs (eg, nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)), unless recommended otherwise by the
doctor. Bedrest has traditionally been recommended for patients with
ascites on the basis that upright posture increases aldosterone levels,
which is associated with sodium retention.