Pre-operative preparation: Essential elements for delivering enhanced recovery pathways

SummaryPre-operative preparation is the first stage in the enhanced recovery process. If it goes wrong it will adversely impact on the peri and post-operative stages of enhanced recovery. If done well it enables the success of enhanced recovery. At this stage the expectations of the patient and their family are set to prepare them for the planned surgery and its effects on the patient. It involves both primary and secondary care. Information is transferred both from the patient and to the patient. This is done by verbal, written and increasingly electronic communication. The patient is evaluated to ensure that there is no medical or social cause to prevent the enhanced recovery process. This has been referred to in the past as pre-assessment but is probably more accurately called pre-operative preparation.