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General and abdominal surgery

Procedure Sedentary admin Sedentary light manual Active light manual Heavy manual Physically demanding
Inguinal, small umbilical, femoral, epigastric or incisional hernia, laparoscopic repair 3-5 days 3-5 days  3-14 days 2-4 weeks 4 weeks
Inguinal, small umbilical, femoral, epigastric or incisional hernia, open repair 3-7 days 1-2 weeks 1-2 weeks 2-6 weeks 2-6 weeks
Large umbilical or incisional hernia laparoscopic repair 2-3 weeks 2-3 weeks 2-3 weeks 4-6 weeks 6 weeks+
Large umbilical or incisional hernia open repair 2-4 weeks 3-5 weeks 3-5 weeks 4-6 weeks 6-12 weeks
Hiatus hernia repair 2-3 weeks 2-3 weeks 2-3 weeks 4-6 weeks 4-6 weeks
Cholecystectomy laparoscopic 3-14 days 3-14 days 3-14 days 2-3 weeks 3 weeks+
Cholecystectomy open 1-2 weeks 1-2 weeks 2-3 weeks 3-4 weeks 4-6 weeks
Laparoscopic fundoplication 10-14 days 10-14 days 2-3 weeks 3-4 weeks 3-4 weeks
Liver donor surgery 4-6 weeks 6-8 weeks 6-8 weeks 8-12 weeks 12 weeks+
Major laparotomy 2-4 weeks 2-4 weeks 4-6 weeks 6-8 weeks 6-8 weeks
Gastrectomy or oesophago-gastrectomy for malignancy 8-12 weeks 8-12 weeks 12 weeks+ Unlikely no
Duodenotomy for ulceration 4-6 weeks 4-6 weeks 4-6 weeks 6-8 weeks 6-8 weeks
Appendicectomy laparoscopic 1 week 1 week 1-2 weeks 2-3 weeks 3 weeks+
Appendicectomy open 2 weeks 2 weeks 2-3 weeks 4-6 weeks 6 weeks+
Right hemicolectomy with end-to-end anastomosis 3-6 weeks 3-6 weeks 4-8 weeks 6-12 weeks 6-12 weeks
Left hemicolectomy or anterior resection of rectum 6-12 weeks 6-12 weeks 6-12 weeks 12-16 weeks 16-26 weeks
Defunctioning stoma closure 3-4 weeks 3-4 weeks 3-4 weeks 4-6 weeks 4-6 weeks
Abdominoperineal excision of rectum with permanent colostomy 8-12 weeks 8-12 weeks 8-12 weeks 12-16 weeks When and if compatible with stoma
Anal verge haematoma When able to sit When able to sit 1-3 days 1-7 days 1-7 days
Thrombosed internal haemorrhoids When able to sit When able to sit 1-2 weeks 2-3 weeks 2-3 weeks
Haemorrhoidectomy (sclerotherapy/ligation/cryotherapy) 1-7 days 1-7 days 1-14 days 1-14 days 1-14 days
Haemorrhoidectomy (surgical) When able to sit When able to sit 2-3 weeks 3-6 weeks 3-6 weeks
Anal fissure – lateral internal sphincterotomy 1-2 days 1-2 days 1-2 days 4-6 weeks 4-6 weeks
Pilonidal sinus primary suture 1-3 weeks 1-3 weeks 2-4 weeks 3-6 weeks 3-6 weeks
Pilonidal sinus secondary intention 3 weeks+ 3 weeks+ 3-6 weeks 6-8 weeks 6-8 weeks
Anal fistula – small, little dressing required 1 week 1 week 1 week 2-3 weeks 2-4 weeks
Anal fistula – large, dressing changed by district nurse when able to sit when able to sit Variable, when comfortable Variable, when fully healed Variable, when fully healed
Abdominoplasty 2-3 weeks 2-3 weeks 4-8 weeks 8-12 weeks 8-12 weeks
Gastric banding 2-4 weeks 2-4 weeks 3-6 weeks 12 weeks+ 12 weeks+
Gastric bypass surgery 2-6 weeks 2-6 weeks 4-6 weeks 12 weeks+ 12 weeks+