Dr Adriaan Liebenberg My Spine Cervical | Page 109

My Spine - Cervical
Prior to closing the wound, a drainage pipe will be placed in the wound and
connected to a reservoir. This will allow all excess blood to drain away and
not cause a blood clot next to the breathing tube, which can be quite danger-
ous.
After the operation, you will be taken to the recovery room to recover from
your anaesthetic. Afterwards you will be monitored for several more hours to
ensure that no blood clots form under the skin of your neck or on the spinal
cord. You may mobilise after the operation and the nursing staff will admin-
ister analgesia for any discomfort that you may experience.
Ward care
The drainage pipe in your neck will usually be removed on the day after the
operation or sometimes, but rarely, the following day. In the ward you may
walk around freely.
Some specialists require that the