What causes pneumonia after surgery?

Answer 1

The most common type of pneumonia found in post operative patients is what's called hypostatic pneumonia. Most often this occurs in patients who have had abdominal or thoracic surgery but could happen with any major surgery. They fail to breath deep causing the farthest reaches of the lungs to be underventilated and eventually collapse. It is not caused by viruses or any of the "usual suspects", it is purely mechanical. This happens because the patint is in pain and does not take deep breaths and cough. This is understandable, but with painkillers and coaching it's not that bad.Nurses should remind patients to deep breaths at least every two hours or that person could be suceptible to this kind of pneumonia. In conjunction with nurses, Respiratory Therapists help those patients with a history of lung disease, and therefore much more likely to develop pneumonia,to cough, deep breath, use nebulized medication and sometimes assisted coughing techniques or drainage by gravity by posturing the patient in the most advantageous positions to accomplish this.

Answer 2

Post-Operative patients usually develop pneumonia because they are affraid to take deep breaths, either because of the pain or because they are affraid to pop the stitches out of their incisions. Laying down in bed constantly can also help lead to pneumonia.