Coughing after surgery is important for clearing the lungs and preventing pneumonia and other lung complications.
Although coughing doesn’t seem like a big deal in your daily life, that may change after surgery.
Coughing is not as easy when you arerecovering after a procedureas it can be painful.
Verywell / Alex Dos Diaz
Verywell / Alex Dos Diaz
Why Am I Coughing So Much After Surgery?
For some people, anesthesia can cause a dry, persistent cough after surgery.
This is common and normally lasts only a day or two.
Coughing is your bodys natural way of getting rid of excess mucus in the lungs.
If mucus lingers in the lungs too long, it can become infected.
Purpose of Coughing After Surgery
Coughing after surgery helps preventpneumoniaby helping you breathe deeply.
Many patients avoid coughing because it’s so painful.
But it’s vital that you cough enough to prevent lung complications.
Coughing clears the lungs of normal secretions, infectious material like pus, and foreign objects.
It keeps the lungs open and expanded.
Coughing is preferable and more effective than suction.
Take your hands or a small pillow and hug it to the wound with gentle but firm pressure.
Bracing helps support your incision and reduces stress on the site.
If you don’t have a pillow, you might use your hands to brace the incision.
The pillow is mainly for comfort.
Even if your incision is not on your chest or abdomen, bracing may help withpain control.
Crossing your legs can also brace the incision if your surgery was in the genital or rectal areas.
It can become very serious.
Bracing your incision is important for several reasons.
Holding pressure on your incision decreases the stress on it, which can decrease the pain.
During your routineincision care, look for signs that the incision is pulling apart or gaps are forming.
Small openings may not be an issue, but they can widen if the wound is stressed.
For example, a person with a cold may cough frequently, putting extra stress on an abdominal incision.
This increases the risk of opening.
The same applies to sneezing.
Bracing will help protect your incision and minimize the pain.
Never stifle a sneeze.
Simply brace the incision, tense the surrounding muscles, and sneeze.
The technique varies slightly from place to place, but the general idea is the same.
While in the hospital a respiratory therapist may prescribe PEP therapy.
PEP uses a equipment with a mask or mouthpiece that you breathe through 10 to 15 times per cycle.
After completing these exercises, be sure to cough to remove mucus in your lungs.
Another machine that may be prescribed is theacapelladevice.
These devices are prescribed based on your condition and ability to take deep and effective breaths on your own.
It clears the lungs of any mucus that has built up and helps prevent pneumonia and other lung complications.
Still, coughing when you have a surgical wound can be painful.
To make it easier, place your hands or a pillow over the incision to brace it.
Then tighten the muscles around the wound and cough.
Bracing not only lessens the pain of coughing, but it can also keep your wound from opening up.
Like coughing, these exercises will help keep your lungs clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coughing up phlegmor mucus after surgery is normal.
It’s a natural, vital way the body gets rid of excess lung mucus.
If you are wheezing after surgery, you may have a lung (pulmonary) complication.
Only if it’s done incorrectly.
Try not to stifle a sneezeholding it back can cause further issues, such as an incision opening.
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