Surgical strategies to untangle a frozen pelvis
Few surgeries require the judgment, rigorous experience, and skill necessary to operate on a frozen pelvis
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Postoperative care
After surgery, the principles of early mobilization and ambulation are key. The single most important postoperative intervention is early ambulation, which can minimize pulmonary problems, ileus, bladder atony, and thromboembolic disease secondary to deep venous thrombosis.
To protect against venous thromboembolic disease, use pneumatic compression devices and early ambulation. In women with other risk factors for deep venous thrombosis, such as malignancy, diabetes, obesity, and smoking, consider subcutaneous heparin.
Unless the bowel was resected or extensive adhesiolysis was performed, I generally allow the patient to have clear liquids on the first postoperative day. I then advance oral intake after gastrointestinal motility returns or when the patient complains of hunger.
Remove the urethral catheter on the first postoperative day unless cystotomy or extensive dissection of the ureters or bladder was performed.
The author reports no financial relationships relevant to this article.
