Ask three questions

As you prepare to leave hospital you may need to get certain things organised. To help you with your planning, make sure you get the answers to these three questions:

1. What are my options?
2. What are the possible benefits and risks of those options?
3. What help do I need to make my decision?

For further information please speak to the staff looking after you.

Your estimated discharge date

The Enhanced Recovery Nurses will discuss your discharge date with you.

When you leave hospital

Complications should not happen very often, but it is important that you know what to look out for.

During the first two weeks after surgery, if you are worried about any of the following, please phone the telephone numbers at the bottom of this page. You should be able to reach a member of staff on the ward at anytime. If you cannot contact the people listed, you will need to contact your GP or the NHS 111 service.

Abdominal pain

It is not unusual to suffer gripping pains (colic) during the first week following removal of a portion of bowel. The pain usually lasts for a few minutes and will go away completely in between spasms.

Severe pain that lasts for several hours may indicate a leakage of fluid from the area where the bowel has been joined together. This can be a serious complication, which fortunately, happens only rarely. Should this occur, it may be accompanied by a fever. On occasion leakage may occur which makes you feel generally unwell, causes a fever but is without pain.

If you have severe abdominal pain lasting more than 1-2 hours and/or have a fever and feel generally unwell, you should contact us on the telephone numbers provided immediately.

Vomiting

Occasionally after surgery you can experience some nausea which is not unusual. Persistent nausea and vomiting however is not to be expected as this could be a sign of obstruction. If this happens to you it could be a sign of obstruction which needs to be treated.

If you experience severe nausea and vomiting please contact us immediately on the telephone numbers provided.

Your wound

The ward nurses will check your wound dressing before discharging you home.

If you have had key hole surgery you might have paper stitches (steristrips) which may be left directly on the wounds. You can continue to bathe or shower and you can pull these off after 7 days during a soak in the bath. You shouldn’t need further dressings after this.

For other wounds it is possible that either dissolvable stitches or a special adhesive will be used and again you may continue to take light showers or baths. If you require a dressing for a longer period of time then the nursing staff will advise you.

It is not unusual for your wounds to be slightly red and tender during the first 1-2 weeks. You may also notice bruising.

Please let us know if your wound:

• Becomes more red, painful or swollen.
• Starts to discharge fluid/pus.
• Your wound edges separate.

As this may indicate an infection. You may also wish to contact your GP or practice nurse at your surgery for advice.

Your bowels

In the early stages following surgery to remove part of your bowel, your bowel habit may change and may either become loose or constipated. This can continue for up to 2-3 weeks.

Try to eat regular meals three or more times per day, drink adequate amounts, and take regular walks during the first two weeks after your operation. This will help improve bowel function.

Please note that if you have an ileostomy it is normal to pass loose stools more frequently than 3 times per day into the Stoma bag. The stoma nurse specialists will discuss this with you.

Please seek advice from the Enhanced Recovery Nurses, your GP or by contacting one of the telephone numbers at the bottom of this page if you are experiencing any of the following:

• Prolonged constipation or diarrhoea.
• Discharge, pus or bleeding from the back passage.
• If you are needing to empty your ileostomy pouch more than 6 times per day and if it is of a very loose, watery consistency.

Passing urine

Sometimes after bowel surgery you may experience the feeling of a full bladder.

This usually resolves, however if you experience ANY of the following problems please ring for advice:

• Unable to pass urine.
• Bladder pain or discomfort on passing urine.
• Excessive stinging when passing urine, as you may have an infection which will require treatment.
• Difficulty in emptying your bladder fully.

Diet

A balanced, varied diet is recommended and particularly eating 3 or more times a day. You may find that some foods upset you and cause loose bowel motions. If that is the case you should avoid those foods for the first few weeks following your surgery. You may find a low residue diet will help in the first two weeks after your operation.

If you are finding it difficult to eat it is still important to obtain an adequate amount of protein and calories to help your body heal. You may benefit from having three to four high protein, high calorie drinks such as Build-up or Complan (available in supermarkets and chemists) to supplement your food, or continue with the Fortisip or Fortijuce drinks which can be prescribed by your GP.

It is important to drink plenty of water. If you are suffering from diarrhoea then it is important to replace the fluid loss and to drink extra fluid.

If you are losing weight without trying or are struggling to eat enough you may benefit from a consultation with the dietitian, please contact any of the numbers provided below and someone will be able to help you, or ask your GP or consultant to refer you.

Helpful suggestions

• Eat small nourishing snacks between meals.
• Try not to skip meals, have a snack or nourishing drink if you cannot manage a main meal.
• Have nourishing drinks during the day. Avoid drinks up to 30 minutes before meals, as they may fill you up.
• If you are not eating as much as you normally would, try fortifying foods to make them more nourishing. See more information below on fortifying foods.
• Have a selection of easy-to-prepare foods in case you do not feel like cooking.
• Make use of your freezer and cupboards to store convenience foods.
• Aim to try and have 5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables to ensure a good vitamin and mineral intake. You may find it easier to digest if you remove the skin.

Important foods

Try to include high calorie and high protein foods at each mealtime.

High Protein Foods

• Meat and fish
• Eggs
• Soya
• Milk, yoghurt, cheese
• Nuts, beans, lentils

High Calorie Foods (if your appetite is poor)

Fatty and sugary foods such as:

• Biscuits and cakes
• Crisps and chocolate
• Puddings
• Cream and butter

Snack ideas

Try these snack ideas which are high in energy or protein:

Savoury

• 'Cream of’ soups
• Bombay Mix
• Individual cheeses
• Crisps and dips
• Peanut butter, nuts
• Quiche, cocktail sausages and pork pies.
• Cheese and biscuits
• Sandwiches
• Instant noodles

Sweet

• Milk puddings, rice pudding, mousse and custard
• Tea cakes and malt loaf
• Pastries and biscuits
• Cakes and muffins
• Trifle and ice cream
• Crumpets
• Full fat yoghurt
• Chocolate

Nourishing drinks

Milky drinks are high in energy and protein. Choose from the following:

• Full cream milk.
• Milkshakes and smoothies.
• Hot chocolate and malted drinks.
• Milky coffee and tea.
• Yoghurt drinks.
• Complan and Build Up.

If you dislike milk, try these high energy alternatives:

• Sugary fizzy drinks e.g. Lucozade, cola, lemonade.
• Complan and Build Up Soups.
• Fruit juice.
• Soya drinks e.g. OY or Provamel.
• ‘Cream of’ soups.

Fortifying foods

The following suggestions may help to add extra energy and protein to everyday foods if you have lost weight or are not eating much:

Milk

• Try using full cream milk instead of lower fat milks in tea, coffee, soups, sauces, jellies, milk puddings, porridge, custard.
• Add ice-cream or creamy yoghurt to milkshakes and smoothies.
• Try using condensed or evaporated milk.

Breakfast cereals

• Use full cream milk.
• Add extra dried fruit or nuts.
• Sprinkle extra sugar on top.
• Add jam, honey or syrup to yoghurt, porridge or cereals.

Toast

• Spread butter or margarine on whilst the toast is still hot.
• Spread jam, marmalade, honey or peanut butter on thickly.
• Try the above with crumpets, muffins and teacakes.    

Sandwiches

• Add mayonnaise or salad cream to fillings such as egg, tuna, cheese or meat.
• Spread butter or margarine thickly.

Soups

• Use ‘Cream of’ varieties.
• Add grated cheese.
• Add dumplings, baked beans or pasta.
• Add croutons.

Mashed potato

• Add butter, margarine, cream, grated cheese or extra milk.
• Mash hard boiled egg with potato and margarine or butter taste.
• Add flaked fish/corned beef/minced beef/fried onions.

Vegetables

• Melt butter or margarine on top.
• Sprinkle with grated cheese or chopped egg.
• Serve with a sauce e.g. cheese or hollandaise sauce.

Puddings

• Try to have a pudding after each main meal or as a snack in-between if your appetite is poor.
• Add cream, ice-cream, yoghurt, condensed or evaporated milk to puddings such as milk puddings, fruit or instant desserts.
• Add sugar, honey or syrup to ice-cream or other puddings.
• Make fruit fool using custard or double cream and pureed fruit.

Sample meal ideas

Breakfast

• Creamy scrambled egg with buttered toast.
• Porridge/cereals with honey/jam.
• Crumpets with butter and jam.
• Muesli with whole cream milk and natural yoghurt.

Main meal

• Shepherds pie with grated cheese topping and buttered vegetables.
• Chicken curry or dahl with rice or chapatti spread with butter or margarine.
• Cauliflower cheese made with fortified milk with grated cheese topping.
• Fish in cheese sauce with creamed potatoes and buttered vegetables.

Snack meals

• Beans on buttered toast with grated cheese topping
• Buttered jacket potato with tuna mayonnaise filling.
• Ham or cheese omelette, chips and salad with mayonnaise.
• A creamy soup with grated grated cheese and croutons.

Pudding Ideas

• Milk pudding e.g. rice/tapioca/ semolina.
• Baked egg custard.
• Crumble with ice-cream.
• Trifle with cream.
• Jelly made with fortified milk.

Exercise

We encourage activity from day one following surgery. You should plan to undertake regular exercise several times a day and gradually increase during the 4 weeks following your operation until you are back to your normal level of activity.

The main restriction we would place on exercise is that you do not undertake heavy lifting 4 - 6 weeks following your surgery. In addition, if you are planning to restart a routine exercise such as jogging or swimming that you wait until 2 weeks after surgery and start gradually.

Common sense will guide your exercise and rehabilitation; in general if the wound is still uncomfortable modify your exercise. Once the wounds are pain free you can undertake most activities.

Work

Many people are able to return to work within 2 - 4 weeks following their surgery. If it involves a heavy manual job then we would not advise heavy work until 6 weeks following surgery.

Driving

It is advised that you do not drive until you are confident that you can drive safely. Usually this is when you are doing most of your normal activities. In general this will be after 4 weeks of surgery. It is important that any pain has resolved sufficiently to enable you to perform an emergency stop. You should contact your insurance company to check their terms or you may not be fully insured.

Hobbies and activities

In general it is advised that you take up your hobbies and activities as soon as possible again after surgery. It enables you to maintain your activity and will benefit your convalescence.

We would not advise restricting these unless they cause significant pain or involve heavy lifting within the first 6 weeks following surgery.

Sexual activities

Feeling tired and weak after an operation or illness naturally affects your sex drive. As you gradually start to feel well again and your energy levels return to normal so should your sex drive. It is important for you and your partner to discuss your feelings openly.

Sexual intercourse can be resumed as soon as you feel comfortable, generally about two to four weeks after surgery. Occasionally, following surgery or radiotherapy to the rectum or lower colon, nerve and blood vessel damage can occur. In men this may cause ejaculatory problems or result in difficulty and/or maintaining an erection. In women, discomfort or vaginal dryness may occur.

These problems are usually temporary, due to inflammation and swelling after surgery, but in some instances may be permanent. If you do experience problems of this nature, please discuss it with your surgeon or colorectal nurse specialist, as specialist help is available.

Medications

You may continue with your normal medicines unless directed to stop by your doctor. You will be given a new supply of these if you do not have enough at home. You will also be given pain killers and any other medicines required, to take home.

It is a good idea to have a supply of non-prescription pain killers, such as Paracetamol, at home as a back up.

If you are required to continue with the ‘Clexane’ injections at home, you will be given enough pre-filled syringes to complete the course (usually for four weeks after your operation) and a ‘sharps bin’ to put the used syringes into. Your GP or local chemist will be able to advise you on how to dispose of the bin in your area.

Clinic follow up appointments

If you are under the care of one of the colorectal nurse specialists, your follow up appointment will be arranged by them. They will discuss this with you as soon as the biopsy results are available. This will usually be approximately two weeks after discharge home. Otherwise an appointment will be sent through the post as directed by the consultant.

Follow up appointments allows the team to see how you are and talk through any further treatment. Please do not hesitate to contact any of us on the numbers provided below if you need any help or advice following surgery.

If your surgery was planned (not an emergency) the enhanced recovery nurse will phone you at home each day for approximately four to five days to check on your progress. In between times, if you have any concerns, you can contact them on the number provided, or out of hours contact the ward.

When to seek urgent advice

If you experience any of the following please seek urgent advice by contacting us on the numbers below.

• Severe or uncontrolled abdominal pain.
• Persistent nausea and vomiting.
• Unable to eat and drink sufficiently.
• Urgent or serious wound problems.
• High stoma output (if you have a stoma following surgery).
• Persistent loose stools/ diarrhoea.
• A new difficultly passing urine.

References and further information

www.nhs.uk/conditions/enhanced-recovery

www.nbt.nhs.uk/erp

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care

How to contact us

Enhanced Recovery Nurses

Telephone: 0117 414 3610

Telephone: 0117 414 3611

Colorectal nurses

Telephone: 0117 414 0514

Stoma Care Nurses

Telephone: 0117 414 0270

Surgical Admissions Unit

Gate 32B Brunel building

Southmead Hospital

Bristol

BS10 5NB

Telephone: 0117 414 3233

Telephone: 0117 414 3234

www.nbt.nhs.uk/erp

GMC Number: 7215355
Year & location of first qualification:
2010, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

Specialty: Neuroradiology
Clinical interests:
Diagnostic Neuroradiology, Vascular and Skull Base pathology, Inflammatory and Autoimmune diseases

Secretary: Caroline Hawkins
Telephone number: 0117 414 9009

Dr Alves Rosa undertook core medical training in the West Midlands prior to radiology training in the Severn Deanery.

He completed a nationally competitive diagnostic and interventional neuroradiology fellowship at the tertiary neurosciences centre of North Bristol NHS Trust.

His qualifications include MRCP Lon (2014), FRCR (2018), and the European Diploma in Neuroradiology (2022). He also completed all modules of the European Course in Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy in 2020.

Dr Alves Rosa has presented research at a national and international level and published in peer reviewed journals.

He is a fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists and an advisory editor for Clinical Radiology.

Email address: joao.alvesrosa@nbt.nhs.uk

Want to have your say? Listening to you, helps us too

Taking part in research doesn’t necessarily mean being treated as part of a study.

At NBT we have a variety of groups involving members of the public who help us to review and  improve the care we give to our patients.

Your involvement helps to ensure that our focus remains on what is most important – the people we look after. We believe that people with personal experience of healthcare are best placed to comment on what research is needed and how research should be done.

You don't need any research experience to join, just fresh perspectives that can guide our researchers, helping to make our research more relevant and acceptable to the people who use our services.

You will be able to:

• Comment on the researcher’s treatment ideas.
• Discuss how the treatment will be carried out.
• Read and give feedback on patient information sheets, letters to patients and patient questionnaires.
• Keep updated on how the research study is progressing.

You can be involved as much or as little as you wish, depending on your personal circumstances. Each group is different, with some meeting for approximately 2 hours every 8 weeks, and others meeting just once or twice in total.

Please see the some of our Current Opportunities below. 

If you are interested in a particular health condition that is not listed below, please do get in touch by emailing researchcommunications@nbt.nhs.uk

Women & Children's groups

What is Bell’s palsy?

Bell’s palsy is a medical problem causing weakness of the muscles on one side of the face. It is usually temporary - with most people making a full recovery within two to three months. It comes on suddenly and the cause is unknown. 

The facial nerve supplies the muscles in your face. In Bell’s palsy this nerve is affected, leading to weakness or paralysis of the muscles that control smiling, frowning, eating and closing the eyelids. It can also affect your ability to taste. 

Bell’s palsy can affect men and women of any age but is most common in 15-45 year olds. In the UK it affects approximately one in 70 people at some point in their lifetime. 

What are the symptoms of Bell’s palsy?

The symptoms of Bell’s palsy often occur very quickly, over a few hours or overnight. The weakness or paralysis usually affects one side of your face. 

The symptoms will vary and may include:

• Facial pain around your ear on the affected side.
• Drooping of the face on one side.
• When you smile, only one side of the face may move, you may not be able to frown, and speaking clearly may be difficult.
• Difficulty closing your eye. It may not fully close and may water or become dry.
• Difficulty when chewing food, you may dribble slightly.
• Altered or loss of taste on one side of your tongue.
• Sensitivity to noise. Noises may sound louder than usual which can be uncomfortable. 

Treatment

Medications

You may have been prescribed oral steroids (prednisolone) if your symptoms started in the last 3 days. If you have been prescribed steroids take 50mg (10 tablets) once a day for 10 days along with omeprazole 20mg once a day for 14 days then stop. Steroids may help to reduce inflammation and decrease the likelihood of damage to the facial nerve. 

Mouth care

As the facial muscle may not be functioning fully, food may become stuck around the teeth and gums on the affected side. Make sure you remember to clean this area well and remove all debris after eating. 

Eye care

Eye care is very important if your eye is affected. If your eye does not close when blinking: 

• The eye can dry up. You should use eye drops or artificial tears to keep the eye moist. Use artificial tear drops during the day and a thicker solution at night. Ask your pharmacist for advice.
• The eye will not have the normal protection from the eye lid closing. It is important to protect the eye and avoid scratching the cornea (the thin, transparent layer covering the eye). Do not use contact lenses until your eye returns to normal. You may be advised to wear an eye patch by day and to tape the affected eye lid closed at night if your eye does not close when you sleep. Tape such as transpore can be used for this. 

Advice for taping of the eye shut at night

1. Cut the tape slightly longer than the width of your eye.
2. If using night time ointments these should be inserted into the eye.
3. Look down.
4. Assist the eye closure with the back of your finger.
5. Apply tape from the inner corner to outer corner of the eye in a horizontal direction so that it extends beyond the width of the eyebrow.
6. Ensure that the eyelid is fully closed; the tape is on the upper lid and covers the area underneath the eye.

Video: How to Tape Your Eye Closed (Adults) - Facial Palsy UK

Exercises can be useful to tone the facial muscles as the movement begins to return, perform 10 each of these exercises 4 times a day:

• Gently raise your eyebrows – you can help the movement with your fingers.
• Wrinkle your nose.
• Try and flare your nostrils.
• Lift one corner of the mouth and then the other.
• Smile without showing your teeth, then smile with showing your teeth.
• Bring your eyebrows together in a frown. 

Prognosis

75-90 people in every 100 people who have Bell’s palsy start to improve within three weeks, and make a full recovery within two to three months. However, about 5-10 people in every 100 people who have Bell’s palsy have some slight weakness which remains forever. Rarely there may be little or no improvement. 

Do I need follow up?

Most people with Bell’s palsy make a full recovery in 3 weeks to 3 months. If you do not make a full recovery in 3 weeks then make an appointment with your GP. 

If you are unable to close your eye normally and develop pain, stinging or visual disturbance please attend the Eye Casualty at the Bristol Eye Hospital in the next 24 hours. The Bristol Eye Hospital Casualty is open 7 days a week from 8.30am - 4.30pm. Further information can be found at Bristol Eye Hospital - How to find us 

© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published June 2025. Review due June 2028. NBT003415.

If your child has ingested (swallowed) a super strong magnet

If your child has swallowed a button battery

© North Bristol NHS Trust.  This edition published April 2024. Review due April 2027. NBT003414.

Easy Read

VNS stands for Vagal Nerve Stimulator.

It helps treat your epilepsy.

It is a device in your body that send signals to a nerve. It helps calm down your brain activity when you have a seizure.

The battery on your VNS is low. 

You need to come to the hospital to have a new VNS battery.

Before your surgery, you will see the epilepsy nurses to make sure you are healthy and ready for surgery.  

You can't have food or drink before your surgery. 

You can have your normal medications. 

You will arrive at the hospital for your appointment at the time you have been told. 

Your family or carer can support you. 

You will go to Medirooms. It is in the blue zone. 

You will check in at the desk. 

You will wait in the waiting room.

Your name will be called. 

A nurse or healthcare assistant will show you to your room. 

You will wait in your room. This is your room for the rest of the day. 

The nurse will check you in. They will ask you lots of questions to check you are healthy for the surgery. 

The doctors and anaesthetist will see you in your room. 

You will have a cannula fitted to your hand or arm. 

You will be taken to the theatres. 

Your family member or carer can get dressed into scrubs and come with you.

The anaesthetist will give you medicines to help you sleep.

You will have your VNS battery changed.

You will be asleep and won’t feel anything.

You will wake up in your hospital room.

Your family or carer can be there when you wake up.

You might have monitors on your arm when you wake up.

You might still have a cannula in your hand or arm.

You will have a bandage on your chest.

If you feel sore, the nurses can give you medicine to help you.

Your nurse will look after you.

When you have woken up you can have something to eat and drink.

When you are feeling well enough you can go home.

Wear your bandage for one week.

Keep your bandage dry when you shower.

A nurse will take the bandage off.

You will see your epilepsy nurse to check the VNS.

If you have a learning disability or autism and have any questions, you can call the hospital learning disability and autism liaison team on 0117 414 1239.

© North Bristol NHS Trust This edition published January 2026. Review due January 2029. NBT003502 EASY READ

Information for day case patients

You have been diagnosed as having an abscess that needs surgical treatment. We have arranged for you to have your operation as a day case.

This means that you will come back first thing in the morning, have your operation and go home on the same day.

Where do I go?

You need to report to the theatre reception Gate 20, level two. You will be asked to go there at 7.30am.

Preparation for day surgery

• Please make arrangements to leave young children at home with someone. We have no facilities for children.
• If you are having a general anaesthetic you must arrange for a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you for 24 hours. If you are taking a taxi home you must have a responsible adult to go with you.
• Even if you are having a local anaesthetic it is recommended that you have someone to take you home. You must not drive if your mobility is restricted by the surgery or if you have had an anaestheic. Your insurance may not cover you immediately after an operation.
• Please arrive promptly at 7.30am as instructed. Do not eat or drink anything except water from midnight the night before. You may drink water until 6am.
• If you feel worse overnight or need some advice ring 0117 414 3233 or NHS 111.
• Before coming in, remove all make-up and nail varnish.

What should I bring?

• Leave all your valuables and jewellery at home.
• Bring in any tablets, medicines and inhalers that you normally take.
• Bring a dressing gown and slippers. We will give you an operating gown to change into for your operation.
• We suggest you bring a book or something to do while waiting for your surgery. The staff will let you know how long you have to wait. 

Arriving for your operation

• The staff in the theatre mediroom will take down details of how you will get home. We will phone your escort when you are ready to go home.
• The nursing staff will get you ready for your operation and answer any questions you may have.
• The anaesthetist will see you before your operation and explain the anaesthetic. The surgeon will have explained and consented you in SDAU/SAU but if you have any further questions please ask to speak to the surgeon the day.
• Most patients will be put to sleep i.e. have a general anaesthetic for the procedure, but in some cases the abscess may be treated with a local anaesthetic which means the area will be made numb. The doctor who has assessed you will have told you which is most appropriate.
• Your operation will be planned to be first on an operating list reserved for patients with an emergency condition. However, if an urgent operation for a more life-threatening condition is needed, your operation may be delayed. If this happens, we will do our best to perform your operation later in the day.

Immediately after your operation

• You will be taken back to a mediroom where we will treat any pain or sickness that you may experience.
• You will be offered a drink and a biscuit.
• Your can dress in the mediroom.
• You can then sit and wait for your escort to arrive.

Discharge home

We expect that you will go home the same day. If there are complications such as severe pain or sickness, you may have to stay in hospital.

If you do have any problems when you arrive home, contact your GP, district nurse or NHS 111 or for major problems SAU on 0117 414 3233.

Anaesthetic drugs remain in your body for several hours. During this time you will react more slowly and be more likely to have an accident. You may need some days off work and help at home.

We advise that for 24 hours you should not:

• Drive your car or any other vehicle
• Cook or operate machinery
• Drink alcohol or take sleeping tablets
• Make important decisions or sign legal documents

You will need regular painkillers immediately after the operation. If you do not have suitable painkillers at home, you will be given tablets to take home with you. You will be given verbal and written advice about wound care and pain relief.

You will likely require a dressing on the area, often changed regularly for a few days or weeks. You can arrange for your GP practice nurse or district nurse to do this, please take your discharge summary as soon as possible to your surgery to arrange this. If your GP surgery cannot provide the service most NHS walk-in centres will. In most cases, the abscess will heal and you will not be seen again at the hospital.

If follow-up is planned, for specific complicated abscesses, this will be arranged for you by the hospital team and you will receive a letter in the post for the test or clinic.

How to contact us

Major Trauma Team
Surgical Assessment Unit
Gate 32B, Level 1
Brunel Building
Southmead Hospital
BS10 5NB

Telephone: 0117 414 3233

© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published July 2022. Review due July 2025. NBT002946

This page is for patients diagnosed as having a rib or chest injury.

Chest injuries are extremely common following blunt and penetrating trauma. They can vary in severity from minor bruising or an isolated rib fracture, to severe crush injuries. These can cause multiple fractures and bleeding which result in pain and breathing problems.

Common causes of rib injury include motor vehicle accidents, falls, and assaults. Treatment aims to relieve pain allowing you to perform normal tasks while the injury heals.

The majority of chest injuries are treated without requiring an operation, but a chest drain may need to be inserted.

Occasionally with severe injuries the ribs may have to be fixed. This requires an operation that is performed under general anaesthetic (you will be asleep).

If you follow the advice given to you in this booklet and by the healthcare professionals on the ward, you should find your chest injury much easier to understand and manage.

Types of injury

Your clinician will let you know which injury type you have.

Rib fractures

Flail chest

Sternal fracture

Pneumothorax

Haemothorax

Lung contusion

The chest

The ribcage supports the upper body, protects internal organs, including the heart and lungs, and assists with breathing.

Rib injuries include bruises, torn cartilage and bone fractures.

Symptoms of chest trauma

• Pain at the injury site.
• Pain when the ribcage moves. For example with movement, when you take a deep breath or when you cough, sneeze or laugh.
• Breathing difficulties.
• Coughing up blood or discoloured sputum.
• Increased temperature.

Treatment of chest injuries

• Pain relief.
• Oxygen therapy.
• Early mobilisation.
• Physiotherapy.
• Chest drain(s).

Very occasionally surgery is required to stabilise the fractures. In severe cases intensive care treatment is also required. If this is needed your doctor will discuss it with you/your family.

Complications

Possible complications of chest trauma include:

• Pain.
• Pneumothorax/haemothorax (definitions above).
• Chest infection – to avoid this it is important to ensure your pain relief is enough so you are able to take deep breaths, cough, and mobilise.

Pain management

• The most important treatment with chest trauma is to have good pain relief.
• Take regular pain relief so you are able to deep breathe, cough, and mobilise – these are vital for you to do as they aid your recovery and help prevent complications such a chest infection.
• Inform your nurse and doctors if you feel your pain relief isn’t adequate.
• Take the recommended pain relief and/or anti-inflammatory tablets; these will improve your healing time.

Lidocaine plasters for rib fractures

Local anaesthetic nerve blocks (epidural, paravertebral or “fascial plane” blocks)

Chest drains

If you have a pneumothorax or haemothorax you may need to have a chest drain inserted. If this is required your doctor will discuss it with you and explain the procedure.

A chest drain is a sterile soft plastic tube that is inserted into the space between the lung and the chest wall. It is used to drain air (pneumothorax) or blood (haemothorax).

If you have a chest drain some important things to know are:

• You may see air bubbling out through the drainage bottle or fluid draining. This is expected and will be monitored.
• You must keep the drainage bottle below the point the drain enters your chest. Usually it is placed on the floor. It is also essential that the bottle is kept upright.
• The drain can come out if pulled or twisted so try to be careful when moving. If the drain does come out tell someone straight away.
• The drain may cause discomfort, but is unusual to cause significant pain. If it is painful inform your nurse and ask for painkillers.

Physiotherapy and breathing exercises

Breathing exercises

Start in a comfortable position, ideally sitting upright in the bed or chair with your shoulders relaxed.

• Take a long, slow, deep breath in, as much as possible.
• Hold this breath for three seconds.
• Slowly breathe out.
• Take three more deep breaths in the same way.
• Return to breathing normally.
• Try to repeat once every hour.

Coughing

The breathing exercise should be followed by a cough. It is very important to cough effectively after a chest injury so that you can clear any sputum promptly and help prevent a chest infection.

Discomfort may be reduced by using a folded towel or pillow to support your chest while coughing.

If you feel that you are unable to clear your chest effectively or are concerned about an excessive amount (too much) of sputum, please inform your nurse who will refer you to the respiratory physiotherapist.

Repeat the breathing exercises and coughing at regular intervals for the first few days following your injury. They may be discontinued (stopped) when you are walking independently and your chest is clear.

Early mobilisation

You will be assisted by the nursing staff or physiotherapist to mobilise (move around) as soon as possible after your injury. It is essential your pain relief is adequate to enable you to do this.

What to do once you are discharged from hospital?

It is very important to continue to take regular pain relief as prescribed.

Once you have been discharged from hospital make an appointment to see your GP within three days.

Your GP may order a follow up chest X-ray and monitor your broken rib(s).

You need to tell your GP:

• If you are feeling more unwell since going home.
• If you develop a fever.
• If your pain medication is not working.
• If you are not able to deep breathe or cough.
• If you are a smoker.
• If you are constipated from pain medication.

Take your hospital discharge summary with you. This summary tells the GP what has happened, tests done and what should happen with your care.

You should seek medical advice immediately from either your GP or emergency department if you have any of the following symptoms after discharge:

• Sudden onset of chest pain.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Shortness of breath.
• Uncontrolled pain.

© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published April 2024. Review due April 2027. NBT002945

When you are discharged from hospital after being critically ill, it will take time to recover physically and emotionally. We feel it is important to ensure you are not alone during this time. 

Our Follow-Up Clinic aims to support you and your family through this journey. As one of the largest ICUs in the country we treat around 250 patients a month so we have a huge number of potential visitors to our follow-up clinic. To manage waiting times we actively invite certain groups of patients to attend. This is based on how long a patient was in the ICU and their condition. If you are not contacted by us, but feel you would like to discuss your time in the ICU please contact us by email. 

For those who we actively contact, we aim to get in touch about 8 weeks after you are discharged from hospital. We ask you to complete a health questionnaire to give us more information about your recovery. Once your questionnaire has been completed and returned to the Follow-Up Clinic, a member of the team will contact you. They will discuss your recovery in more detail to find out whether you would benefit from more input. In this case, you may be invited back to the hospital for a face-to-face or virtual meeting with the team. We will aim to establish any current issues, assist you to deal with these, or direct you to available support.    

We also welcome feedback from patients and relatives about their experience on ICU, and what we can do to improve our care in the future. If there is anything you would like to feedback, please contact us via our email address: icufollowup@nbt.nhs.uk 

Useful links

• Life after a critical illness
• ICUsteps: Fact sheets about what to expect after an ICU admission, and patient stories.
• Healthtalk: Real life patients talking about their experiences in ICU.

Referrals

We accept referrals to the follow-up clinic from wards, specialty clinics, GPs and patients themselves. 

If you are a clinician please contact icufollowup@nbt.nhs.uk  if you have a patient you would like to refer or visit ICU Follow-up NBT (Remedy BNSSG ICB) for more information.