From the Guidelines
After an endoscopic partial discectomy, patients should be monitored for at least 2 hours in the recovery room and provided with clear written instructions on fluids, diet, and medications to ensure a smooth recovery. The instructions should prioritize the patient's comfort and safety, while also minimizing the risk of complications.
- Patients should be advised to follow a specific diet and fluid intake, as recommended by the healthcare provider, to prevent discomfort and promote healing.
- Medications should be taken as directed, and patients should be informed about potential side effects and interactions.
- Patients should be educated on signs of complications, such as persistent chest pain, fever, breathlessness, or tachycardia, and instructed to seek immediate medical attention if these occur 1.
- Imaging and contrast studies should not be performed routinely after the procedure, unless patients develop symptoms that suggest a complication, such as persistent chest pain or fever 1.
- Patients should be ensured to be well and tolerating water before being discharged from the hospital, and clear instructions should be provided on what to expect during the recovery period 1.
- In case of suspected perforation, patients should be evaluated promptly, and a CT scan with oral contrast may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis 1.
From the Research
Post-Endoscopic Partial Discectomy Instructions
- The patient should follow a multimodal pain management approach to minimize postoperative pain, as suggested by 2.
- A single dose of oral analgesics such as ibuprofen 200 mg plus paracetamol 500 mg can provide effective pain relief, with a number needed to treat (NNT) of 1.6, as reported in 3.
- The patient should be informed about the potential benefits and harms of different analgesic interventions, and the treatment plan should be tailored to their individual needs, as recommended in 2.
- Endoscopic discectomy has been shown to be as effective as other surgical techniques, with additional benefits of lower complication rates and superior perioperative parameters, as concluded in 4.
- Patients who undergo endoscopic discectomy can expect significant improvement in back pain and lower-limb symptoms, as well as improvement in quality of life, as demonstrated in 5 and 6.
- The patient should be advised to follow a gradual return to activity plan, with most patients able to return to their previous occupation within a few weeks, as reported in 6.
- The patient should be monitored for potential complications and recurrence of symptoms, and further treatment should be planned accordingly, as suggested in 5 and 6.