Please leave jewellery and valuables at home. A wedding ring can be left on and will be taped before going to theatre.

 

Don’t worry about shaving the surgical site as this will be done in the operating theatre if needed.

 

On the day of the operation, dress appropriately for the weather and avoid getting cold or wet. Maintaining a normal body temperature is very important for the success of your operation and is one of the principles of enhanced recovery aimed to reduce any stress caused by the surgery to your body.

 

Good nutrition and fluid balance is paramount. We aim to minimise the amount of time you need to starve before an operation and get you eating and drinking as soon as possible afterwards.

 

Please try to eat well in the days leading up to your operation and avoid getting constipated as surgery and anaesthesia (including some painkiller medications) could make it worse.

 

If you are NOT diabetic, please purchase four bottles of an isotonic sport drink (This should be still and not fizzy). This should not be a diet or low sugar version. If your operation is scheduled in the morning, please drink one bottle before going to bed and start drinking the second one as soon as you get up that morning, aiming to finish it by the time you arrive at the hospital. If you are on an afternoon list, please drink the first bottle when you get up in the morning and another one on the way in to the hospital. Remember to bring in a couple of additional bottles with you in case you are scheduled later in the day and need to drink in the hospital. We will advise you if this is necessary.  This sugar and water load will help you to feel much better after surgery and reduce any sickness.

 

Apart from the sport drinks and clear water, you must not eat anything, drink anything containing milk (including white tea or coffee) or take any liquids in the six hours prior to your operation.

 

If you are diabetic, we will give you specific advice with regard to your diabetes medications and insulin therapy. We will do our best to plan your operation as early as possible in the day.

 

We will encourage you to drink and eat almost immediately after surgery. This is key to reducing sickness and will help facilitate your body returning to normal.  It is important to try to drink and eat a little soon after your operation even if you don't feel like it.

 

You will be encouraged to get up and mobilise as soon as possible.  This reduces the chance of chest infection, the risk of clots in your legs or lungs and helps your intestine to work sooner.  Do not try to get up on your own the first time after surgery, a nurse should be there with you.

 

Mr Lorenzi and Dr O’Hara have worked together in developing combined anaesthetic and surgical techniques to reduce any pain and sickness and improve your comfort after surgery.

 

We use deep neuromuscular blockade and low intra-abdominal pressures during minimally invasive surgery to improve the surgeon’s view and reduce the operating time as well as to decrease any post-operative pain, in particular shoulder tip pain sometimes associated with keyhole surgery.

 

We use local and regional anaesthetics to control pain after surgery and choose the most appropriate medications for each individual patient to do this and reduce any sickness.

 

​We have developed our techniques to optimise your recovery. H However, this will only happen if you are well informed and motivated.  We are working together and you are part of the team!

 

Keeping yourself warm, well hydrated, fed and getting up and about early following surgery are very simple things which can make a big difference and allow you to have a safe and prompt recovery.