A brief overview of the enhanced recovery programme
Written and verbal advice is provided in the outpatient pre-assessment/pre-admission clinic. This helps the understanding of enhanced recovery as it is important that patients contribute to this programme and that relatives are informed too.
Before surgery patients are generally encouraged to eat and drink normally. A period of starvation is only necessary just before the operation. Additionally, most operations do not require the bowel to be prepared by cleaning it out with laxatives taken by the mouth before surgery. Pain relief has been improved within the programme with less need for drugs which cause side effects.
People are asked to take a carbohydrate rich drink called preOp© before their operation. This helps contribute to a faster recovery time.
Research shows that taking food and moving around after surgery improves recovery. Patients are therefore encouraged to eat and drink, as well as sit out of bed on the day of surgery, provided their operation is not too late in the day. They will also usually be able to walk around the ward the day after surgery.
As the recovery will improve using this programme, people will generally only need about 3 to 4 nights in hospital after their surgery, particularly when it can be performed using a ‘keyhole’ (laparoscopic) technique. It is important to plan for this discharge date as transport home will need to be arranged. A specific discharge date will be given to individuals before they are admitted to the hospital.
Patients normally return to the outpatient department between two weeks and two months after their surgery - the length of time depends upon the type of operation undertaken and the reason for that operation. At this clinic visit the surgeon will review the patient, checking that progress is satisfactory and informing them about further treatment and follow up, if required.
Most people will have made a full recovery within two to six weeks of laparoscopic surgery. Recovery can take a little longer after open surgery. Patients can usually resume normal activities, with the exception of heavy lifting and contact sports, after the above time periods including driving, resuming work and restarting sexual relations.
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