Recover faster after major abdominal operations thanks to the handy app

ikHerstel is an app that helps patients to recover faster after surgery. The app offers personal advice that is specifically tailored to the operation and the patient’s daily activities.

Customized recovery plan

Patients are being discharged from the hospital faster and faster, often returning home after one day. Previous research has shown that patients experience insufficient support during their recovery. Researchers at Amsterdam UMC have therefore developed the special ikHerstel app to support and remotely guide patients after surgery. The app offers a customized recovery plan. Even before the operation, the treating doctor or nurse discusses the app with the patient. The patient fills in what he or she considers important to be able to do again after the operation.

For example, the patient can indicate which 8 personal activities must be resumed before there is full recovery. Via the app, the patient can monitor whether the recovery is going according to plan. If necessary, the patient can contact the specialist via an e-consultation.

Recovered faster

With the ikHerstel app, patients recover from major abdominal operations, such as colorectal cancer, almost two weeks faster than patients who do not use the app. This has emerged from research by Amsterdam UMC among 355 patients in eleven Dutch hospitals. The app gives patients more control over their own recovery, which also relieves the burden on healthcare staff. The results of the study were published today in the medical journal Lancet Digital Health.

The study, published in the Lancet, focused on 355 patients undergoing bowel or uterine surgery. These surgeries are risky and often require a longer recovery period with complications, such as with colon cancer. Half of the patients were given access to the ikHerstel app. This group appeared to have fully recovered 13 days earlier (after 52 versus 65 days) than the control group.

Related articles

Innovations in healthcare

Professors Judith Huirne (gynaecology) and Han Anema (occupational medicine) from Amsterdam UMC are the initiators of this eHealth app. Huirne: “Innovations in healthcare must first and foremost help patients, in this case to help them regain control of their lives. An operation is not nothing, a patient can be uncertain afterwards.” One patient likes gardening, the other wants to go for a quick walk or longs to go back to the tennis court. The ikHerstel app helps them safely resume their daily activities after surgery.

Anema: “This app has been extensively scientifically researched. We will continue with that, again and again for a different kind of operation. We started with gynecological procedures. After positive outcomes, there was an expansion to surgical and orthopedic operations. Each time it turned out that patients who use the app recover faster and return to the hospital less often.” Given the staff shortages in healthcare, this is not only good news for patients, but also for hospitals.

The ikHerstel app is currently used in 10% of Dutch hospitals, but there are plans to expand its use. By the end of 2025, they aim to have recovery advice available for 80% of all planned surgeries.

Would you like to use this app in recovery after surgery? Leave a comment below this article!