After cardiac surgery, patients may not fully recover their digestive function and require more protein and vitamins than usual after major surgery. These two nutrients must not be reduced. Therefore, early postoperative diet for patients undergoing cardiac surgery should pay attention to the following points:
1. Eat small amounts and multiple meals
It is advisable to eat small amounts and multiple meals, with each meal being 70% full. The diet should be comprehensive, with a balanced intake of high-quality protein, fiber, and starch. Eating food multiple times a day can be recommended, but the intake should be small each time, in order to avoid eating too much at once, which can increase the burden on the heart and affect its function. To prevent aspiration, drinking water and eating must be done while sitting up, and it is advisable to eat slowly and in small sips.
2. Balanced nutrition
Avoid a single diet and avoid feeding a bowl of rice for a day. Patients need to have balanced nutrition and consume fruits, noodles, eggs to supplement vitamins, proteins, and other nutrients. The essential amino acid content in milk and eggs is basically consistent with that of the human body, so their nutritional value is relatively high; The types and proportions of amino acids in animal protein are more in line with human needs, so animal protein has higher nutritional value than plant protein. Adequate protein intake in the early postoperative period is beneficial for postoperative recovery.
3. Drinking soup after surgery? Don't forget to eat meat
Many patients' families think that after surgery, they should take good care of themselves and be very particular about their diet. They believe that various nourishing soups are the most nutritious and easier to digest than meat, but in fact, they often have the opposite effect. The ingredients in soup are mostly water, fat, and salt, and the proteins that can truly promote tissue growth and wound healing are actually hidden in the meat! So, don't forget to eat meat when drinking soup to supplement nutrition. If the patient has high uric acid and blood lipids before surgery, drinking soup is absolutely not advisable.
4. Limit water intake
Excessive water intake can increase the burden on the heart, causing complications such as pulmonary edema, heart failure, and pericardial effusion. Therefore, after surgery, the amount of water intake should be limited according to the patient's condition. It is advisable to drink small amounts multiple times, generally 30-50ml per hour. The specific doctor or nurse will inform the patient according to their condition.
5. It is not advisable to eat too many canned and cold drinks. Currently, there are many types of canned drinks available on the market, many of which are mainly composed of sugar or saccharin, spices, pigments, and water, and often lack nutrition. After cardiac surgery, the digestive organs of patients are still in the stage of recovery and adjustment, and their digestive function is often weak at this time. Cold food entering the stomach can stimulate the contraction of gastric mucosal blood vessels, reduce gastric juice secretion, and affect the digestion process of food in the gastrointestinal tract; At the same time, it will also weaken the bactericidal ability of the digestive tract, leading to infectious diseases in the gastrointestinal tract.
6. It is not advisable to blindly supplement
Some family members believe that ginseng has a nourishing effect, so they give postoperative patients ginseng soup. Ginseng does have the functions of strengthening the heart and body, replenishing qi and generating fluids, but different types of ginseng have different properties. Improper consumption can actually cause symptoms such as decreased appetite, nosebleeds, and restlessness. It is not recommended to consume health products with unclear ingredients, such as unknown sources of Sanqi powder and other health drugs.
7. Identify foods with high vitamin K content
Foods with high vitamin K content mainly include: spinach, cabbage, beets, mung beans, lettuce, cauliflower, mustard greens, coriander, lotus root, as well as animal liver, cod liver oil, egg yolks, etc. Especially for patients who have undergone valve replacement surgery, they will take anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, and vitamin K will affect the effectiveness of anticoagulation, so vitamin K should be reduced or consumed in moderation.
8. Avoid consuming large amounts of foods that enhance the anticoagulant effect
Some foods can enhance the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, such as garlic combined with warfarin, which can enhance the anticoagulant effect of warfarin; Grapefruits contain coumarin compounds, which can inhibit the activity of liver related drug metabolizing enzymes, reduce the metabolism of warfarin, and enhance anticoagulant effects; The combination of mango and warfarin can also enhance its anticoagulant effect.
What is' volatile matter '?
In the fields of modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, there is no clear definition of volatile compounds. In the folk definition, food refers to food that is stimulating, easily triggers diseases, or exacerbates existing diseases. For example, fish and shrimp are volatile substances that can cause wounds to heal after consumption; Lamb meat is a volatile substance that can easily cause internal heat after consumption. Therefore, we can simply understand that foods that are prone to allergies are organic compounds. After heart surgery, it is advisable to avoid foods that are prone to allergies such as fish and seafood, as well as foods that are prone to allergies in daily life. Apart from that, there are no special "organic compounds" that need attention.