Enhanced recovery for patients following colorectal surgery

The gastrointestinal tract consists of different organs that may become diseased and require surgery. Colorectal surgery is commonly undertaken for conditions such as colorectal cancer and diverticular disease. This article discusses some of the more common operations to increase the reader’s understanding of colorectal surgery. Enhanced recovery has been undertaken in the UK and Europe for several years. It is a way of improving the experience and wellbeing of patients following surgery by enabling faster recovery and return to normal, minimising post-operative complications such as infection, as well as reducing length of stay in hospital and readmission.