GENERAL SURGERY

Bowel Resection
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH YOUR PROCEDURE

The heart and science of medicine.

Enhanced Recovery
You have been placed on the enhanced recovery pathway.
The pathway provides more effective pain control as well as
earlier mobility, advancement of diet, and sooner discharge
from the hospital.
The pathway includes detailed instructions for pre-operative
care, care at the hospital, post-operative care and care once
you are discharged home.
You will be walked through each step in this brochure and
should call your surgeons office at (802) 847-1288 with any
questions or concerns regarding the instructions.
Preparing Yourself For Surgery
Preparing yourself for your upcoming surgical procedure can and will speed your recovery,
minimize your postoperative complications and improve your overall health.

NUTRITION
Continue to eat a healthy, balanced diet prior to surgery. Nutritional supplements such as Boost,
Ensure and Carnation Instant Breakfast may be beneficial, particularly if you have lost weight
recently. (Inform your surgeon if you have had unexplained weight loss) You may be asked to
drink Gatorade the night prior to your surgery to improve intestinal function after surgery.

EXERCISE
Do not reduce your activity levels prior to surgery. It is important that you remain as active as
possible. Consider adding a walking program prior to surgery.

SMOKING CESSATION
If you are smoking at the time of surgery you will be at an increased risk for complications
involving your lungs (such as pneumonia) and impaired wound healing. You can work with your
Primary Care Provider on this health improvement or contact the UVMMC Tobacco Treatment
Specialist at 802-847-7333 or access 802QUITS AT 1-800-784-8669 OR WWW.802QUITS.ORG
BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL
If you have problems with blood sugar due to diabetes, work with your Primary Care provider or
Endocrinologist to achieve the best possible control prior to surgery.

MEDICATIONS
Most patient will continue all their pre-operative medications including aspirin. Some blood
thinners may need to be stopped. If you have any questions call your surgeons office. For most
patients aspirin, Tylenol, and other pain relievers (eg: ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve) can be continued
until surgery. Inform your doctor if you are on other blood thinners.(eg: Coumadin Warfarin,
Xarelto, Eliguis, Lovenox, Heparin)
Pre-Operative Showering Instructions
You play an important role in the prevention of a surgical site infection by preparing your skin to be
as germ-free as possible. Your surgeon has asked that you shower with the antibacterial soap
sponge(s) provided.
It contains chlorohexidine gluconate (CHG). If you have a known allergy to this agent you should
not use this soap, and inform your surgeon or nurse. In this instance you should use Dial or
Safeguard soap.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Shower the night before and the morning of your
surgery.
Do NOT shave the surgical area.
At the end of the shower, use the sponge side of
the provided soap applicator to wash the indicated
area noted in the box for a full two minutes while
facing away from the water.
Rinse your entire body.
Dry gently with a clean towel.
Do not use powder, cream or lotion after the
showers.
Change your bed linen after your evening shower.
Pre-Operative Instructions
You will be given specific bowel preparation instructions which may include a bowel cleansing
regimen, antibiotics or enemas. If you have been asked to use a bowel prep prior to your surgery,
pick up bowel prep at least two days prior to surgery and follow the bowel prep instruction insert.
(Not all patients will need bowel prep.)
Another essential part of the Enhanced Recovery pathway is the preparation of your colon prior to
surgery. This will help to keep you hydrated and allow your body to maintain a nutritional balance
during the surgical process.

THE DAY BEFORE YOUR SURGERY

Purchase three 20 oz. bottles of Gatorade. It does not matter what flavor. DO NOT BUY G2
RECOVERY OR LOW CALORIE VERSIONS OF THE GATORADE unless instructed by your
surgeon.

THE NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY

Drink one and a half bottles (30 oz.) of Gatorade.

5 HOURS BEFORE SURGERY

Drink one 20 oz. bottle of Gatorade. Try to finish it within one hour.

REMEMBER
Nothing to eat after midnight the night prior to surgery.

You may drink CLEAR LIQUIDS ONLY up to 4 hours before surgery.

Failure to comply may delay or cancel your surgery.

CHECKING IN ON DAY OF SURGERY

You will check in to the registration desk on the third floor of the Main Campus two hours before
your scheduled time of surgery.

If you have any questions please call

(802) 847-1288
What to Expect After Surgery
AFTER SURGERY
Post-surgery you will be taken to the recovery room. Once you are fully awake you will be taken to
the surgical floor. You will have a foley catheter in place to collect your urine.
Some operations may include a temporary or permanent stoma.
If you have a stoma you will meet with the Wound Ostomy Care Nurse for education. Please see
insert for further details.

THE NIGHT AFTER SURGERY

Get out of bed and walk the hallway with the assistance of the nurse or nurse aide.

You will start with small amounts of clear liquids and advance slowly to more solid foods as
ordered by your doctor.

THE NEXT MORNING

You will need to get out of bed and walk again. At this point, the catheter in your bladder will most
likely be removed.
Walking may be slightly painful but is essential for your recovery. It will improve your bowel
function and minimize complications.
Try to spend as much time out of the bed as possible.

PRIOR TO DISCHARGE HOME

Your pain should be controlled with oral pain medications.

You should be tolerating small amounts of food.

You may or may not have return of your bowel function.
You should also be able to walk the hallway without difficulty.

Most patients are discharged between 1-5 days post surgery.

At Home Care
PAIN CONTROL
Ice incision(s) as much as you can.

Alternate (2) - Extra Strength Tylenol and (3) - 200mg Ibuprofen every 3 hours
(Ex: (2) Tylenol at 12:00 pm, (3) Ibuprofen at 3:00 pm, (2)Tylenol at 6 pm)
Use your narcotic pain medication for breakthrough pain as needed. No narcotics will be filled on the
weekends.

NUTRITION
Continue to eat smaller, more frequent light meals.

Hydration is very important. Sipping small amounts of fluid is a good way to stay hydrated.
No raw vegetables or fruit for 2 weeks. Cooked is OK.

BOWEL FUNCTION
You should expect irregular bowel function after surgery with some urgency, frequency, or changing
consistency. If you have a stoma, the output is also irregular. Some days there may be no bowel
movement at all. Some blood may be present.

INCISIONS
You may have several small or one long incision. Icing will help with pain and decrease swelling. If you
have staples, you will need a nurse visit for removal 7 to 10 days after your surgery. You may have steri-
strips (small white pieces of tape) over your incisions that will peel off a week to ten days after surgery.
You may remove them after that. You may have a small to moderate amount of yellow or pink clear
drainage from incisions. This is a normal occurrence and keeping the area covered with a dry dressing
is appropriate. Change dressing daily or if it becomes saturated. It is OK to shower and pat the incisions
dry.

LETHARGY/SLEEP
You should expect to feel run down and tired. You will need to rest frequently. Your sleep patterns can
be irregular for the first 6 weeks after surgery.

When to Call a Nurse(802) 847-1288

If your pain is uncontrolled with Tylenol, Ibuprofen and the maximum dose and frequency of your narcotic pain
prescriptions.
If the pain medication is causing intolerable side effects.

If you need a refill please call the office before you run out; if possible first thing in the morning the day before you
run out. There are many restrictions on narcotic pain medication. A hard copy of the prescription signed by the
surgeon is required and someone will have to come to the hospital to pick up the prescription.
If you are having nausea and vomiting or if you are not able to stay hydrated.

If you have not had a bowel movement in two days.

If you notice a spreading warm, red area around the incision(s). If there is yellow or brown drainage.

If the incision opens up.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION
To find health information, or for convenient and secure access
to your medical record through MyHealth Online, please visit
UVMHealth.org or call us at (802) 847-0000.

GENERAL SURGERY
111 Colchester Avenue
Main Pavilion 5th Floor
Burlington, VT 05401

HOURS
Monday Friday
8:00 am 5:00 pm

PHONE
(802) 847-1288

FAX
(802) 847-4538

UVMHealth.org/MedCenter