ERAS Education: After Your Thoracic Surgery

ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) is a collaboration between you, doctors, nurses, and others helping you get well after surgery.

For the first month:

• Follow instructions about what to eat and drink.

• Get exercise, like walking, a few times a day. Slowly increase activity.

• Do NOT drive until you no longer take ANY opioid pain medications (meds), or sedating/mind-altering meds.

• Do NOT lift anything heavy that would cause you to strain.

• Do NOT play any contact sports like football or basketball.

• Follow weight restriction guidelines.

Call RIGHT AWAY:

• If you have a fever of 101.5 F degrees or higher

• If your wound is red or MORE painful

• If pus or foul-smelling odor is coming from your wound

• If your pain is WORSE

• If you’re having MORE trouble breathing

• If you feel sick to your stomach, you are throwing up, or not able to eat

• If you’ve had foregut surgery and are having steady loose stools or constipation

• If you were released from the hospital with a drain or tube in place and have problems or questions

Call early if you think something is wrong. Don’t wait!

Call your primary care provider (PCP) if:

• It burns when you urinate

• You have a flare-up of a chronic condition such as gout, migraines, and so on.

• You have long-term meds questions, such as those for blood pressure or diabetes 

Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you:

• Have chest pain

• Are severely short of breath or have major trouble breathing

• Have any other severe problems

Have the emergency team call us once you are stable.