Esophageal Surgery: A Guide For Patients and Their Families
Department of Nursing: UI Hospitals and Clinics
Peer Review Status: Internally Reviewed
Creation Date: July 2001
Last Revision Date: July 2001
Having part or all, of your esophagus removed is a major surgery. This booklet is to help you and your family prepare for surgery. It will explain what you can expect before and after your surgery. As you read through this material, please jot down any questions.
It takes a team to help you recover as quickly as possible, and you are the most valuable player. Your family, friends, and health care providers are here to support you!
- What is an Esophagectomy?
- How can I live with only a portion of my esophagus?
- What kind of tests do I have before I have surgery?
- Is there anything I need to do before I am ready to have the surgery?
- What can I expect the day before my surgery?
- What else will I have before I leave the nursing unit and go to the operating room?
- Where do my family/friends wait while I am in surgery?
- Do I go back to the unit that I was on before surgery?
- What kind of equipment will I have?
- How many incisions will I have and where will they be?
- How does pain control assist in my recovery?
- What type of pain control measures are available?
- What are the most important things can I do to help in my recovery?
- When will the NG tube be removed?
- When will the chest tube be removed?
- What happens after I start the small meals of a soft diet?
- Why all the attention to the eating and calorie counts?
- Who will I need to talk to before I leave the hospital?
- What will I need to have at home when I am discharged from the hospital?
- What kind of care do I need to do with a jejunostomy tube at home?
- What type of problems with the J-tube should I report to my doctor?
- When I am at home, is there anytime I should call back to my doctors at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics?
- How do you keep my local doctor updated on what is happening with me?