What to expect from GI surgery
Consistent gastrointestinal care from consultation to recovery
If you or someone you love needs gastrointestinal (GI) surgery, you’re in skilled hands with Penn Medicine’s GI surgery team. Our passion for patient-centered care means we provide personalized care with unwavering compassion and support — whenever and however long you need us.
Much about your GI surgery care journey will depend on details specific to you (such as the type of surgery you’re having and your needs). Here, we’ve laid out general steps that often apply to our GI surgery care experience.
Gastrointestinal surgery consultation and preparation
We review everything you need to know ahead of your GI surgery, starting with the initial consultation with your health care provider through surgery prep.
The first time we meet many patients is during a GI surgery consultation. Our GI surgeons always start a consult aiming to diagnose the problem and curate a treatment plan for how we can help you.
Pinpointing a diagnosis is an important step to getting the treatment you need. To assess the problem, a surgeon may:
- Conduct a physical examination
- Take your medical history
- Ask you questions about your symptoms
- Review previous medical tests
- Order additional medical tests
Depending on the specifics of your case, the surgeon may discuss your diagnosis and treatment options during your initial surgery consultation or at a later date.
Penn’s multidisciplinary approach to GI surgery means different types of specialists meet in teams to discuss rare or complex cases. This system helps us personalize your treatment based on a wealth of expertise. Learn more about the full range of gastrointestinal surgery types we offer.
Once we pinpoint your diagnosis, your doctor will make sure you understand it and walk through all your treatment options. We never rush and always take the time necessary to answer your questions.
We explain:
- Surgery details, including what to expect during recovery and any impacts surgery may have on your health, now or in the future
- Potential benefits of a surgery, including results you could experience and how surgery may improve your life
- Potential risks of surgery, including common and rare side effects or complications you could experience after surgery
Once you and your doctor agree on a treatment plan, your care team will help you prepare for surgery in multiple ways. Before surgery, someone will meet with you to explain the entire care process in detail, including:
- What recovery looks like, right after surgery and in the days and weeks ahead
- How a surgery may impact your life or body functions long-term
- Steps you can take before surgery to increase your chances of a successful result
In many cases, we give you a booklet with all of these instructions and helpful tips that you can take home and review at your convenience.
Some GI surgeries may impact your diet or eating habits in the short or long term. If so, a member of our team (such as an advanced practice provider or nutrition professional) will meet with you one-on-one before surgery.
They will explain any short-term effects (such as energy loss) or long-term impacts (such as changes to your eating habits) you may experience after surgery. They can also provide ongoing support and guidance to help you manage any nutrition-related challenges after surgery.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a type of GI cancer, such as pancreatic or esophageal cancer, we offer additional support. GI cancer treatment is often complicated. Penn’s specially trained GI oncology nurse navigators guide and support you through the treatment process. Read more about navigating gastrointestinal cancer.
Our approach to GI surgery
When you choose Penn Medicine for gastrointestinal surgery, you can expect:
- World-class expertise: Our GI surgeons include national and international leaders in diverse areas of GI surgery. We have a long and successful track record of treating a wide range of complex problems with precision.
- Convenient locations: Our skilled care teams perform surgery at three downtown Philadelphia hospitals and other locations throughout the region so you can get the care you need close to home.
- Dedicated GI surgery care teams and recovery floors: You’ll be cared for by experienced surgeons as well as highly trained anesthesiologists and nurses. We understand the needs of patients facing similar situations, and we prioritize your safety and comfort at all times.
- Minimally invasive options: Our surgeons stay up to date on the latest care innovations, and we appropriately use the least invasive surgery techniques that fit your needs. Laparoscopic (which uses tiny incisions) and robotic gastrointestinal surgery offers many patients an easier recovery with less pain.
Recovery after gastrointestinal surgery
Gastrointestinal surgery recovery time is different for everyone. Your recovery will depend on many factors. One main factor is the type of surgery you’re having. Recovery from an outpatient (same-day) hernia repair will be different from recovery after major liver resection surgery.
Your age and overall health can also impact your recovery. No matter what procedure you’re having, our goal is always to help speed your healing however we can.
At Penn, our care teams follow specific “pathways” (or steps) while you’re in the hospital recovering after surgery. These protocols include Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS ®), national standards that research has shown may improve your recovery.
These steps help you heal and feel better sooner after surgery. Your care team will explain how ERAS may fit into your recovery. These steps may include encouraging you to move soon after surgery or using narcotic alternatives to manage any discomfort you feel.
Our goal is to have you recovering comfortably at home as soon as it’s safe after your surgery.
For outpatient surgeries, such as routine hernia repair surgery, you can usually expect to go home within hours after your surgery. For major GI surgeries, such as esophagus, liver or pancreas resection surgery, you can expect to recover in the hospital for a few days up to one week after surgery. It may take two to three months after a major GI surgery for you to feel like yourself again.
After you leave the hospital, your care team will monitor your health with routine follow-up appointments. In some cases, you may be eligible to meet with your surgeon remotely (using a smartphone or computer) via virtual post-operative visits. Learn more about our telemedicine services.
You can expect your care team to continue supporting you throughout your recovery. Our easy-to-use patient portal (MyChart by myPennMedicine) makes it easy to get prompt answers to any questions or concerns you have for your care team during the healing process.
Some GI surgeries can impact how your body functions (or how you live your life), in little or big ways. Depending on your needs, additional Penn specialists may assist in managing your long-term follow-up care, including advanced practice providers, GI oncologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, dietitians, and physical therapists.
For patients who qualify and are recovering from a GI surgical procedure, we offer an easy way to touch base with your provider and have a follow up post-surgery appointment via mobile video through our patient portal, MyChart by myPennMedicine. If you have undergone a low-risk procedure, you may be eligible for this service based on your geographic location and condition.
From the comfort of your home or wherever you may be, telemedicine allows you to focus on healing instead of traveling to the doctor’s office. The virtual visit allows you and a Penn GI surgeon or nurse practitioner to review your recovery progress, post-surgical symptoms and pain, incision care, medications, and next steps.
Benefits of virtual post-op care include:
- Convenience and ease with remote connection and without the stress of travel
- Improved access with more efficient evaluation and better availability
- Potentially lower health care costs
No geographic restrictions with services available from anywhere in the world (in accordance with laws of patient’s state/country)
Not all Penn Medicine providers offer telemedicine services. Please contact your provider to determine if he/she participates and check back periodically as more providers are being added monthly.
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