Colorectal - Discharge advice following the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Pathway (Colorectal)

Important discharge information

Any social arrangements that were identified as being needed at your pre-op assessment should have been organised to prevent your discharge home from being delayed.

Things to remember

Complications do not happen very often; however, it is important that you know what to look for:

Pain

You may go home with some tummy pain/discomfort, this is normal.

Please take your pain medication as prescribed which will be given to you on discharge.

During the first few weeks after your discharge, if this pain becomes more severe and lasts for more than 2 hours, or you develop:

• Fever
• Feeling hot and sweaty
• Feeling sick and or vomiting
• Generally feeling unwell

Please contact the numbers given at the end of this leaflet for advice.

Wounds

If your wound needs care by the district nurses, then the ward staff will arrange this prior to you going home.

The ward staff will provide you with dressing/equipment for your wounds.

It is not unusual for your wound to be slightly red and uncomfortable for the first 1-2 weeks. However, if your wound becomes:

• Painful
• Swollen
• Feels hot
• Starts to discharge fluid

and you are seeing the District Nurses please contact them for advice, otherwise please contact the numbers given at the end of this leaflet for advice.

Diet

After surgery, there are no long-term restrictions on your diet (unless you have a stoma). You may find that your appetite takes some time to return after your operation, try eating little and often rather than having one or two big meals a day.

For the first 2-3 weeks try to avoid foods with skins e.g. tomato, stalks of vegetables, broccoli stalks or seeds, and nuts. It is important that you continue to drink plenty of fluids.

Stoma patients

Dietary advice is available in a separate leaflet from the staff on the ward. You will be provided with plenty of supplies (stoma bags) by the Stoma therapist on discharge.

You will be visited by the Stoma Therapist within the first 4 days of discharge.

Mobilisation

Once you get home please continue to walk around the house and take short walks outside. Remember you need to walk back so do not walk too far to begin with.

Gradually increase how far you walk and your exercise over the following 4 weeks until you are back to your normal level of exercise.  Do not undertake heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks after surgery. If your wound is uncomfortable whilst exercising/lifting reduce what you are doing then once you are pain free you can increase/return to your normal activities.

Work and driving

You are advised not to drive for at least 6 weeks, this can be discussed with your consultant at your follow up appointment.

You will be able to return to work within 6 to 12 weeks depending on your operation and your job. Please discuss this with your consultant.

Outpatients’ appointment

You will be given an appointment to attend one of the colorectal specialist nurse clinics within 1 to 2 weeks after discharge.

You will also receive an appointment to be seen in your Consultant’s clinic 6 to 8 weeks after discharge.

Useful contact numbers

Once you are home if you have any problems/worries please do not hesitate to contact us.

Daytime 8am to 5pm.

Colorectal nurse specialists - 0161 206 1249 where there is an answer machine.

ERAS nurse specialist Sister Rachel Meskell via hospital switchboard on 0161 789 7373 ask for bleep 3443.

After 5pm at night or weekends, Ward B1 on 0161 206 4538/0161 206 4327.