What should you ask your surgeon before an operation?

Before agreeing to surgery, you need to understand what will be done, why it is being recommended, whether there are other options and what to expect in the days afterwards. The purpose of talking to your surgeon is not to learn every medical term. It is to understand how the proposed treatment will affect your life and health.

It helps to write down your questions beforehand and bring your test results and a list of your medicines. If you wish, someone you trust can join you for the discussion. It is perfectly reasonable to ask for an answer to be explained in different words if you do not understand it; your decision should be based on information you understand, rather than a document signed in a hurry.

What will this operation change?

Your first question could be: “What is my diagnosis, and what problem is the operation intended to address?” The answer should make the purpose of the procedure clear. One operation may aim to treat the disease, another to relieve symptoms, and another to clarify the diagnosis. The outcome is assessed against whichever of these goals is intended.

Asking “Which examination or test showed that I need this?” helps you understand the basis for the decision. Sometimes it is imaging, sometimes an analysis of a tissue sample, and sometimes an assessment of symptoms together with a physical examination. If further tests are planned, you should know whether their results could change the surgical plan.

If cancer is suspected or has been diagnosed, it is worth asking: “Will surgery be the only treatment, or is other treatment planned before or afterwards?” The answer explains where surgery fits into the overall treatment. The first step is not the same for every cancer diagnosis, and the sequence may change depending on how far the disease has spread.

Are there other options, and what difference would waiting make?

The answer to “Are medicines, monitoring or a more limited procedure possible?” should cover the expected benefits and limitations of each option. Hearing the name of an alternative is not enough. You should be told why it is considered suitable in your situation or why it is not recommended.

“What could happen if I do not have surgery or delay my decision?” is a separate question. The answer helps you understand how much time you have to decide. Some conditions can be monitored through planned follow-up, while delaying treatment for others may make it more difficult. General information on the internet cannot establish this; the discussion needs to focus on your own test and examination results.

If you would like another opinion, you can clarify how much time is available to obtain one. You also need to know which changes should prompt you to seek urgent help while waiting. If you develop sudden severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, loss of consciousness or serious bleeding, do not wait for your scheduled appointment.

How will the operation be performed?

Asking “What will be done to which organ, and how much will be removed or repaired?” may give you a clearer answer than the name of the operation. A simple explanation, with a sketch on paper if needed, is easier to understand than a long list of terms. If removing all or part of an organ will affect its function afterwards, this should also be discussed.

“Is open or laparoscopic surgery planned, and why is that approach being chosen for me?” Laparoscopic surgery means working through small incisions using a camera and instruments. Open surgery provides access through a larger incision. The answer should relate not only to incision size, but also to the features of the condition and how the operation can be performed safely.

Situations in which the plan might change during surgery are discussed beforehand. Asking “When might you need to switch to open surgery or change the extent of the operation?” helps you understand a decision that might otherwise seem unexpected afterwards. Discussing the possibility of a change does not mean it will definitely happen.

If bowel surgery is planned, you can also ask about the possibility of a stoma. A stoma is an opening of the bowel on the abdominal wall through which stool passes into a special bag. Whether it could be temporary or permanent, when it might be needed and how you will be taught to care for it are important points for everyday life.

What affects my risk?

“What are the main risks of this operation, and how do my other health conditions affect them?” The assessment may take account of your age, heart and lung conditions, diabetes, previous operations and medicines. Understanding the factors that apply to you is more useful than reading a general list of complications.

Alongside general risks such as bleeding, infection and blood clots, the risks specific to the operation should also be discussed. For example, if two ends of the bowel are being joined, the possibility of a leak at that join is explained separately. Asking “If this happens, how will it be detected, and what treatment might I need?” helps you understand the contingency plan.

The answer to “What should I change before surgery to reduce my risk?” should be tailored to you. Tell the team about blood-thinning and diabetes medicines, allergies and dietary supplements. Stopping a medicine or changing its dose must be agreed with your treatment team. You should also receive written instructions about fasting and drinking fluids.

What will happen after I leave hospital?

Asking “Roughly how long will I stay in hospital, and what needs to happen before I can go home?” helps you plan support at home and everyday tasks. The length of stay you are given is an estimate. It may change depending on how the procedure goes and how quickly you recover. If you will need special care or temporary equipment at home, arrangements are made in advance.

“Will the tissue that is removed be sent for analysis, and who will explain the results?” A pathology examination checks tissue for signs of disease. In cancer, the results help guide decisions about the tumour's characteristics, the margins of the removed tissue and the need for additional treatment. Not all the answers may be available when the operation is over.

Asking “When is my follow-up appointment, and whom should I contact if I have a problem in the evening or at the weekend?” clarifies what happens next. If you are waiting for tissue results, you should also know whom to contact if you have not heard anything. Recording these details and planned appointments in your discharge paperwork helps ensure continuity of follow-up care.