Before & After Surgery

Transcript

When you come in for your colon surgery, you will have to do a small prep preoperatively. It’s not quite the same as a colonoscopy prep, but oftentimes it does involve a laxative and an antibiotic.

When you come into the hospital, oftentimes we now use what’s called an abdominal block to actually numb your abdomen for the surgery to decrease your pain afterwards.

Following surgery, you will expect to stay in the hospital for a few days, likely anywhere between two and five days. At that point, your surgeon will just be monitoring your status and for any changes in vital signs or laboratory values, and while awaiting what we call bowel function or for your bowels to begin working again.

Once your bowels are working, your pain is controlled and you’re able to tolerate a diet, you will more than likely be able to go home.

Key Takeaways

1. When you come in for colon surgery, you will do a small prep including a laxative and an antibiotic.

2. When you come into the hospital, oftentimes we use an abdominal block to numb your abdomen for the surgery to decrease your pain afterwards.

3. After surgery, expect to stay in the hospital for anywhere between 2-5 days while your surgeon is monitoring your status for any changes in vital signs, laboratory values, and for your bowels to begin working again.

4. Once your bowels are working, your pain is controlled, and you’re able to tolerate a diet, you will more than likely be able to go home.