On the ward

The following morning she is looking very well. She has been on a morphine infusion overnight and appears without pain. The nurses have now given her paracetamol and stopped the morphine. She still looks comfortable.

Charlie has been put ‘nil by mouth’ after the operation, but the surgeons have seen her already this morning and are happy to let her have clear fluids from the following morning if she is not vomiting.

Her mother she has barely slept. She asks if she can take her home, but you explain that she will need to be on intravenous fluids and antibiotics for another day.

The following morning you again review Charlie. It is now 36 hours since her laparotomy and resection of bowel. She continues to look well. She has minimal erythema around the site of the operation, has opened her bowels and has taken fluids including milk without a problem.

The surgical team have already seen her and are happy for her to go home, as long as you are too. After consultation with the consultant you prepare to discharge her.

What is your next plan?