Care before, during and after surgery
For most people, having an operation is a major event in their
lives. There can be an overwhelming amount of information to take
in, and it can be difficult to know what to expect. We hope that
the information on our website helps you understand more about your
condition, and what is involved in your treatment, including
surgery. On these pages, we have put together information about
having surgery under our care that we hope you will find
useful.
What to expect
The preoperative assessment team have put together a series of
video guides explaining what you can expect when you come in for an
operation. These can be found
here.
Preparation
A really important part of having an operation is being well
prepared. This means making sure you are as healthy and fit as you
can be. This will help you to increase your chances of having a
good recovery, reducing your risk of having complications of
surgery. This can include losing weight, stopping smoking,
controlling other health conditions such as diabetes, and an
exercise program. Physical preparation to improve your fitness for
surgery is often called 'prehabilitation'.
It is also very important to make sure you know what to expect
during your stay in hospital, and what you should be able to do
during the different phases of your recovery. For example, after
major cancer surgery, such as an oesophagectomy, how many times
will you be getting out of bed and walking on the first day after
your operation? Knowing what to expect will help you achieve the
goals for your care, helping you have a good recovery, getting you
through your operation and out of hospital as smoothly as
possible.
Enhanced Recovery Programme
An Enhanced Recovery Programme (ERP) or Enhanced Recovery After
Surgery (ERAS) is a package of care that covers the whole journey,
from pre-operative preparation, care during your operation, and
treatment and plans for care after surgery that is designed to
accelerate recovery and allow you to return to normal function as
soon as possible. More information is available on the Enhanced
Recovery Programme page, here.
After surgery
Our team will explain to you about your expected recovery after
surgery, and goals during your stay in hospital. They will also
explain to you about your continued recovery after you have been
discharged from hospital.
After major surgery, including cancer surgery, we will routinely
see patients in clinic after they have been discharged to ensure
that they are continuing to recover well, and to discuss any
results from the operation. If you have had surgery for cancer, you
will have a Cancer Nurse Specialist who is a good point of contact
for any questions or concerns before or after clinic
appointments.
After other surgery, such as a hernia repair or key-hole removal
of the gallbladder, most patients will not routinely be seen in
clinic by the surgical team again. This is because very few people
have residual symptoms or problems after these operations.
Therefore, coming back to clinic is an unnecessary inconvenience
for most patients. If you have questions or problems after these
types of operation, you should arrange to see your General
Practitioner who will be able to answer most questions and deal
with most issues that arise. However, if they need to, they will be
able to refer you back to be seen in our clinic.
If you have had surgery under our care and you are feeling
unwell, you should contact your General Practitioner, call NHS 111,
or attend an Accident and Emergency department if necessary.
