For ERAS surgery to be successful, your healthcare team depends on you to help get ready for surgery and to help get better after surgery.

Following the guidelines from your doctor, the Pre-Admission Clinic, and your healthcare team will help you to feel better and go home sooner after surgery.

You help by:

• following the guidelines for before your surgery
  • plan ahead (make sure everything is ready for you when you go home)
  • quit smoking as far ahead as possible (at least a month before surgery)
  • stay active
  • cut down or stop drinking alcohol as far ahead as possible
  • follow the guidelines for drinking and eating (if you don’t, your surgery could be cancelled)
• doing the leg and breathing exercises and walking as soon as you are able, starting the day of surgery
• eating as well as you can after surgery
• taking your medicines the way your healthcare team recommends

See Section 2: At Home: Getting Ready for Surgery for more information