Our microlaryngeal surgery ERAS program is designed to help patients return to health more quickly after undergoing the surgery.
Goals
Make this an ideal surgical experience for you, the patient.
Incorporate innovative pain medications to improve your postoperative pain control while decreasing your narcotic needs.
Prevent potential surgical and anesthesia complications.
Reduce the amount of time you are in the recovery area after surgery.
Decrease the likelihood of having to return to the hospital after discharge.
Before Surgery
Your surgeon will meet with you to explain the surgical plan and set your expectations for surgery.
Contact your surgeon via MyChart or call the surgical clinic with questions: 214-645-8898.
You will receive instructions for surgery and medications via a phone call prior to surgery. You may also be scheduled for an appointment in our Pre-Surgical Testing Clinic to meet with our anesthesia team or have bloodwork drawn.
We may request testing from your other physicians.
Call our Pre-Surgical Testing Clinic with any questions: 214-633-4202.
Lifestyle modifications:
We encourage you to stop smoking and/or consuming alcohol for one month prior to surgery.
We encourage you to increase your physical activity prior to surgery, eat a balanced, healthy diet and remain hydrated.
On the night before surgery, eat no solid foods after 11 p.m.
You may drink clear liquids (such as water, Gatorade, or Sprite) until two hours before your surgery start time.
In the pre-op area, you will receive non-narcotic pain medication (acetaminophen) to improve your post-operative pain.
We will also administer nasal spray (Afrin) to open your nasal passages and help with oxygenation during the procedure.
During Surgery
Prior to going to sleep, you will receive extra oxygen, in one of two forms: either a mask (over nose/mouth) or soft nasal oxygen. The nasal version gives high levels of oxygen and can take a few seconds to get used to. That is completely normal.
We may place stickers on your forehead to assess how much anesthesia you need.
You will receive general anesthesia and be completely asleep during the procedure.
Your anesthesia team will work with your surgeon to keep you safe throughout.
You will receive multiple medications during surgery to treat pain and to prevent nausea.
There will be a specific and tailored anesthetic protocol to decrease the stress on your body, improve pain, and accelerate your recovery.
After Surgery
You will wake up in our Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
You will be allowed to start drinking fluids and eat quickly after surgery.
You will be given a lozenge as needed to help with possible sore throat.
In the recovery area, we will ask you to get out of bed and walk with help from your nurse (typically less than 2 hours after surgery).
Unless instructed otherwise by your nurse or surgeon, you will be able to eat a normal diet the day of your surgery.
You will take scheduled non-opioid pain medications during your recovery and have narcotic medications available for breakthrough pain, if necessary.
Ultimately the goal is for you to go home the same day of surgery with rare exceptions.
Our goal is to get you from surgery to discharge in as short, but safe a time as possible.
Reminder: it is common to wake up with nasal dryness and sore throat, and over the first few days after surgery to have some nasal congestion or sinus drainage. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your surgeon or their clinic.
