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Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS)

Patient Education
Last reviewed

A guide for patients having colorectal surgery

What is ERAS?

It is a new way of improving your experience and outcomes after a major surgery. It helps you recover faster and get back to your normal life as quickly as possible. The ERAS program focuses on making sure you are actively involved in your recovery.

There are four main stages of ERAS:

  1. Planning and preparing before surgery: 
    This gives you plenty of information so you feel ready.
  2. Lowering the physical stress of the surgery: 
    This lets you to drink up to two hours before your surgery.
  3. A comfort plan: 
    It focuses on giving you the right medicine you need to keep you comfortable during and after surgery, while reducing the amount of narcotic you get.
  4. Early feeding and moving around after surgery:
    This lets you to eat, drink, and walk around as soon as you can.

You need to know what to expect before, during, and after your surgery. Your care team will work closely with you to plan your care and treatment. You are the most important part of the care team.

Please take part in in your recovery and follow our advice. By working together, we hope to keep your hospital stay as short as possible.