Le Fort Osteotomy PodQuiz: Nursing Priorities and Patient Care

Post-Operative Nursing Priorities

• ✈️ The number one nursing priority after facial surgery, including a Le Fort osteotomy, is maintaining a patent airway.
• 💧 Clear, watery drainage from the nose could indicate a cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leak, which requires immediate physician notification for lab testing.

Cranial Nerve and Complications

• 🧠 The trigeminal nerve is most commonly affected during a Le Fort procedure, impacting facial sensation and chewing.
• 🍽️ Damage to the trigeminal nerve can make eating difficult for 4-6 weeks, even when resuming a softer diet.
• 🤢 Proactive nausea prevention is crucial because vomiting with a wired or fixated jaw can lead to airway obstruction and aspiration, increasing the risk of pneumonia.

Patient Care and Instructions

• 🦨 A flexible tracheostomy suction tube is recommended over a stiff Yankauer for suctioning the oral cavity.
• 🥤 Patients should avoid using straws for oral intake and instead use a cup or feeding syringe to maintain fluid volume.
• ⬆️ Maintaining an upright position after the procedure helps reduce swelling, post-operative pain, and aspiration risk.

Activities to Avoid Post-Procedure

• 🚫 Patients should avoid blowing their nose, flying, scuba diving, and swimming.
• 🏋️ Strenuous activity and contact sports should also be avoided.
• 🚬 Smoking and brushing with a stiff toothbrush are also contraindicated.