|
Pre-operative care
Members of the medical and nursing team will discuss with you your forthcoming operation/investigation to help prepare you and answer any queries you may have. It may help you to write down notes as you think of them, so that you can discuss them with your medical team.
For most elective, planned surgery, a bowel preparation will be given. This is an oral preparation that clears your bowel ready for surgery. This reduces the likelihood of infection and allows the surgeon to see your bowel more clearly.
If there is a possibility your operation will result in a stoma a mark will be made on your abdomen indicating where a possible stoma will be situated. The stoma can be either on the right or the left side of your abdomen.
Hospitals generally have specially trained senior nurses called stoma care nurses (SCN) who will help you and your family throughout your care, both before and after your operation. It may be helpful to meet another person who has experienced living with a stoma. This can be arranged through your specialist nurse or support groups.
|
