Abdomen leaflets

These leaflets are to be used to support the information and advice provided by health professionals and are not intended as a self-help guide.

Please click on the links on the right hand menu to download patient information leaflets about the treatment and management of abdominal conditions at East Cheshire NHS Trust. Included are kidney, stomach, gall bladder, bowel, urinary and groin conditions.

NHS Direct is also a good source of patient information. Visit the website or phone 0845 4647 for details.

Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS)

Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) is a specific way of planning your care both before and after bowel surgery.  An important aspect of ERAS is that you understand what ERAS aims to achieve and how you can help yourself to recover from surgery and return to your usual activities.

There are four areas of ERAS which are discussed below:-

Nutrition

ERAS focuses on nutrition both before and after your operation.

You will be given some carbohydrate drinks to take to drink before your surgery.  Building up the carbohydrate levels in your body helps to prepare your body to recover from surgery.  These drinks also help your body to compensate if you are not eating as much as you would usually.

ERAS enables patients to eat much sooner after bowel surgery than in the past. You will be encouraged to drink fluids and eat light diet as early as the evening of your surgery (according to instruction by your Surgical Team).  You will then build up to a normal diet slowly. After your operation you will be given regular protein drinks. It is very important to take these drinks after your surgery as they can build up your energy levels and help your wound to heal.

Mobilisation

Early mobilisation is an essential part of ERAS. You will be encouraged to sit out of bed for a period the morning after your surgery and the Physiotherapy team will support you in early mobilisation.  This will help to prevent complications such as chest infections and blood clots in lungs and legs.  Moving around will also help your bowels to resume activity.

You can help yourself by carrying out deep breathing exercises (10 deep breaths with your mouth open every hour) and by mobilising as much as you are able to.

Discharge plans

ERAS aims to discharge you home and back to your usual activities much sooner that traditionally. As soon as you are eating, drinking and are mobile you will be discharged home – this may be between 2 and 7 days if you do not experience any complications such as a chest or wound infection. 

A social worker or Discharge Liaison Sister will be able to discuss plans with you if you anticipate a problem with early discharge. Please discuss this with your Nurse as soon as possible on your admission so that there is ample time to set up any additional services required for your discharge.

For more information on how you can help yourself prepare for major abdominal surgery download the Enhanced Recovery document below:

http://www.improvement.nhs.uk/documents/er_my_role.pdf

Comments, compliments or complaints

We  welcome any suggestions you have about  the quality of our care and our services.

Contact us

Freephone: 0800 1613997
Phone: 01625 661449
Textphone: 01625 663723

Customer Care, Reception, Macclesfield District General Hospital, Victoria Road, SK10 3BL 
Email: ecn-tr.CustomerCareService@nhs.net  

For large print, audio, braille version or  translation of a leaflet contact Patient and Public Involvement on 01625 661254 or email: ecn-tr.YourVoice@nhs.net