Getting Healthy for Surgery
Preparing Your Body for Surgery: Steps to EnhanceYour Recovery and Outcomes
Preparing your body for surgery is a crucial step in ensuring a smooth and speedy recovery. Dr Keeley’s approach includes the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program, often referred to as the Rapid Recovery Joint Replacementprogram which optimises every stage of your surgical journey. By focusing on pre-operative care, intra-operative techniques, and post-operative recovery, the goal is to minimise complications, reduce pain, and promote a faster return to full function.
PRE-OPERATIVE CARE: OPTIMISING YOUR HEALTH BEFORE SURGERY
The foundation of a successful recovery starts before surgery. In the weeks leading up to your procedure, Dr Keeley will guide you on how to optimise your health and well-being. This includes addressing any existing medical conditions, improving your nutritional status, and preparing mentally for surgery.
- Health Optimisation: Managing chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure and achieving a healthy weight can reduce surgical risks.
- Nutritional Preparation: Adequate nutrition supports muscle strength and helps your body heal faster. Dr Keeley’s team will provide guidance on dietary choices and supplementation to prepare your body for surgery. Minimising fasting time before surgery helps reduce fatigue and infection risks.
- Pre-Operative Education: You’ll receive detailed information about your surgery to help you feel more confident and prepared. This education can reduce anxiety and promote mental well-being before and after surgery.
- Discharge Planning: Arrangements for your discharge, such as home health services or outpatient rehabilitation, are made in advance to ensure a smooth transition home after surgery.
INTRA-OPERATIVE CARE: MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNIQUES FOR BETTER OUTCOMES
Dr Keeley employs advanced surgical techniques designed to minimise the trauma to surrounding tissues and promote faster healing. Throughout the procedure, the focus is on maintaining your body’s normal functions to reduce post-operative complications.
Minimally Invasive Surgery: These techniques involve smaller incisions, leading to reduced pain, quicker recovery, and less tissue damage.
Optimised Anaesthesia: Regional or local anaesthesia with light sedation is used to reduce the stress on your body. This approach helps control pain without the side effects of general anaesthesia or opioids.
Local Infiltration Analgesia (LIA): A multimodal pain management technique where a combination of local anaesthetic and pain-relieving medications is injected into the surgical site, reducing pain and allowing early mobility.
Enhanced Circulation and Oxygenation: During surgery, your blood circulation and oxygen levels are closely monitored to promote tissue healing and reduce the risk of complications.
POST-OPERATIVE CARE AND REHABILITATION: ACCELERATING YOUR RECOVERY
The goal of the ERAS program is to get you up and moving as quickly as possible, with minimal pain and fewer complications. Early mobilisation is crucial for preventing muscle weakness, improving circulation, and speeding up your recovery.
- Early Physiotherapy and Mobilisation: Dr Keeley encourages you to begin walking and light movement just hours after surgery to reduce the risk of complications like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and to speed up your recovery. You’ll also be encouraged to change into your own comfortable clothes, as a reminder that you’re on the path to recovery, not illness. Early mobilisation helps restore independence and promotes a faster return to normal activities.
- Pain Management: Effective oral pain medications are prescribed to keep you comfortable without the sedative effects of stronger opioids.
- Rapid Removal of Drains and Catheters: To enhance mobility and independence, catheters and drains are removed as soon as possible, allowing you to move freely without being tethered to the bed.
- Wellness Model: The emphasis is on promoting your independence in daily activities like washing and dressing, giving you confidence and a faster return to normal life.
DISCHARGE AND HOME RECOVERY
One of the primary goals of the ERAS program is to allow you to recover at home with minimal need for inpatient rehabilitation. By coordinating home health services and providing detailed instructions for at-home care, Dr Keeley’s team ensures that you have the support you need for a smooth recoveryand a quicker return to your daily life.