Postoperative management
breathing difficulties, pain
PULMONARY EMBOLISM, DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS, INFLAMMATION, BLOOD, COMPLICATIONS
All patients stopped using antibiotics within 24 h after surgery, and all received intravenous tranexamic acid (1 g) at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery. All patients received intravenous dexamethasone (10 mg) on postoperative day 1 and intravenous dexamethasone (5 mg) on postoperative day 2, and they began to receive oral prednisone (10 mg) from postoperative day 2 onward in order to control pain and reduce inflammation. All patients were required to start functional exercise as soon as they had recovered from anesthesia and to begin walking under pain control from postoperative day 1. Every patient received a lower-extremity pump and a subcutaneous injection of low-molecular-weight heparin (2000 IU) to prevent deep vein thrombosis from postoperative day 1. The patients were discharged on the third day after the operation if they had no signs of complications and could walk independently.All patients underwent Doppler ultrasonography either immediately if they showed any sign of deep vein thrombosis or otherwise on postoperative day 2 or 3 and 14. Patients were scheduled for computed tomography angiography if they suddenly experienced chest discomfort or breathing difficulties, if they coughed up pink foamy sputum, or if they exhibited other symptoms suggestive of pulmonary embolism.Blood transfusion was performed according to the guidelines of the Chinese Ministry of Health [