ERAS optimizes your recovery from abdominal surgery. This protocol decreases the length of your hospital stay and minimizes postoperative complications. We use ERAS to improve the hospital experience for patients after surgery.
Before surgery
You should eat a healthy diet, stop smoking and drink a carbohydrate-rich beverage to keep your blood sugars stable after surgery and reduce your risk of nausea. If you are undergoing a bowel resection, you may need a bowel prep and antibiotics the day before your surgery. Your care team will help control your pain even before surgery in the preoperative area, and they will continue to guide your pain management throughout your hospital stay.
During surgery
Your care team uses several strategies to help minimize your recovery time. For example, they aim to keep fluids at a minimum and give you anti-nausea meds and TAP blocks (pain medications injected into the abdominal wall) to help reduce your postoperative pain.
After surgery
You should start walking and being up and about as soon and as often as possible. This activity will help you maintain strength and muscle tone during your recovery process. Most people will be able to eat their usual diet after surgery. Our care team will help you manage your pain with non-narcotic pain medications and limit the need for opioid pain medications.