About Enhanced Recovery Programmes
Enhanced recovery programmes are evidence based pathways of care to help patients recover quicker and with fewer complications after undergoing major surgery. These programmes do not include revolutionary or experimental forms of care but instead bring together all aspects of best practice to improve the experience of patients. Certain aspects of enhanced recovery challenge established surgical dogma and may be unfamiliar to both patients and some medical staff.
The benefits of enhanced recovery programmes are not disputed and should be applied across all surgical disciplines in modern practice. These programmes have been found to be especially efficacious in general surgical practice when combined with laparoscopic surgery. If you are not being offered an enhanced recovery programme after your surgery you should ask your responsible surgeon why not.
Aspects of enhanced recovery
- Preoperative education and discharge planning
- Avoidance of bowel preparation
- Reduction in physical stresses of surgery
- Multi-modal pain relief and treatment of nausea
- Avoidance of tubes and drains
- Early introduction of fluids and diet
- Early assisted return to normal activity
