Your team will be with you every step of the way. Thanks to minimally invasive surgery and enhanced recovery programmes, most patients today eat, walk and recover sooner than they imagine.
Before surgery
PrehabilitationWalk daily and do breathing exercises in the weeks beforehand. Arriving fitter shortens recovery.
NutritionIf you have lost weight or eat little, tell us: you may need supplements before surgery.
FastingNo solids for 6 hours before. Take the carbohydrate drink up to 2 hours before if prescribed.
Bowel preparationYou may need laxatives or enemas the day before. Follow the instructions exactly.
StomaIf a stoma (bag) is a possibility, a stoma nurse will inform you and mark the site beforehand.
The day of surgery
AnaesthesiaGeneral, sometimes combined with an epidural or nerve blocks for better pain control.
TechniqueWhenever possible, laparoscopic or robotic: small incisions and faster recovery.
DurationBetween 2 and 4 hours depending on complexity.
Lines and drainsYou may wake up with an IV line, urinary catheter and sometimes a drain. They are removed early.
After surgery
Getting movingInto a chair the same day or the next, and walking several times a day. It is the most effective way to recover.
DietFluids within the first 24 h, progressing as tolerated. There is no need to wait for a bowel movement to eat.
Bowel habitMore frequent or looser stools are normal at first; this improves with time.
ActivityNo lifting over 5 kg for 4–6 weeks to prevent hernias in the scar.
⚠ When to seek help immediately
Go to the emergency department or contact your team if you have:
Fever of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher
Pain that does not improve with your prescribed medication
Persistent vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
A wound that is red, warm, oozing or opening up
Difficulty breathing or chest pain
No gas or bowel movements together with abdominal bloating
