What Does Ensure Surgery Drink Do? Pre- and Post-Op Nutritional Support Explained

November 23, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society guidelines, proper nutrition is crucial for better surgical outcomes. The Ensure Surgery drink is specifically designed to help patients prepare their bodies and recover faster by providing targeted nutritional support, based on these evidence-based protocols.

Quick Summary

Ensure Surgery provides specific nutrients like complex carbohydrates, protein, and omega-3s to prepare the body for surgical stress, improve immune function, and support faster healing after a procedure.

Key Points

Pre-Surgery Benefits: The clear carbohydrate drink reduces hunger, thirst, and anxiety while fasting before surgery.
Post-Surgery Recovery: The immunonutrition shake provides protein, arginine, and omega-3s to support tissue repair and boost immune function.
Enhanced Healing: Key nutrients and antioxidants aid in faster wound healing and reduce the risk of infection after a procedure.
Reduced Complications: Stabilizing blood sugar with pre-surgery carb loading helps mitigate complications associated with insulin resistance.
Shorter Hospital Stay: A proactive nutritional approach before and after surgery has been shown to contribute to reduced time spent in the hospital.
Medical Guidance is Key: These specialized drinks should only be used under a healthcare professional's guidance, especially for patients with pre-existing conditions like diabetes.

The period before and after surgery places immense stress on the body, requiring significant energy and resources for healing. Specialized nutrition products like Ensure Surgery are formulated to provide targeted support during this critical time. Abbott offers two different drinks for surgical patients: Ensure Pre-Surgery Clear Carbohydrate Drink and Ensure Surgery Immunonutrition Shake. Understanding the function of each drink is key to leveraging their benefits for an enhanced recovery.

Two Types of Ensure Surgery Drinks

Abbott provides a tailored nutritional approach with two different drinks, each with a unique role in the perioperative journey. It is crucial to follow a doctor's specific recommendations for timing and product use.

Ensure Pre-Surgery Clear Carbohydrate Drink

This clear, fat-free carbohydrate beverage is designed for use immediately before a procedure, following modern Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols. It contains 50 grams of complex carbohydrates per serving to 'fuel' the body and helps reduce hunger, thirst, and anxiety while fasting. It can also help mitigate insulin resistance during surgery, improving blood sugar control. The drink includes antioxidants like zinc and selenium to assist in recovery.

Ensure Surgery Immunonutrition Shake

This milk-based shake provides protein and immunonutrients to support the body's immune system and aid recovery in the days leading up to and following surgery. It contains 18 grams of protein per shake to support tissue repair and wound healing. For specific benefits regarding immune function, wound healing, reducing inflammation, and lowering the risk of post-surgical infection, you can refer to {Link: Abbott website https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2017-04-26-Abbott-Introduces-Science-Based-Nutrition-Drinks-to-Help-Patients-Have-a-Better-Recovery-from-Surgery}.

Benefits of a Targeted Nutritional Approach

Integrating specialized nutrition into surgical care plans, as supported by evidence-based protocols like ERAS, offers several benefits. These include improved healing, reduced complications, shorter hospital stays, better blood sugar control, and reduced discomfort. For more details on the benefits, please see {Link: Abbott website https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2017-04-26-Abbott-Introduces-Science-Based-Nutrition-Drinks-to-Help-Patients-Have-a-Better-Recovery-from-Surgery}.

Ensure Surgical Nutrition Products Comparison

A comparison of the two Ensure surgical nutrition products can be found on {Link: Abbott website https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2017-04-26-Abbott-Introduces-Science-Based-Nutrition-Drinks-to-Help-Patients-Have-a-Better-Recovery-from-Surgery}.. This comparison details features such as the primary goal, key ingredients, texture, recommended timing, benefits, and those for whom the product is not suitable.

How These Surgical Drinks Work at a Cellular Level

The body experiences metabolic and immune stress during surgery. These drinks are formulated to counteract this by providing essential nutrients.

Carbohydrate-loading: Provides complex carbohydrates to replenish glycogen stores, preventing the breakdown of muscle for energy (catabolism).
Immunonutrient Delivery: Arginine supports wound healing and immune cell function as a precursor to nitric oxide. Omega-3 fatty acids modulate the inflammatory response after surgery.
Antioxidant Protection: Zinc and selenium protect cells from stress-induced damage and support general immune health.

Important Considerations Before Consuming

Use these drinks only under medical guidance. Patients with conditions like diabetes need specific instructions. Adhere strictly to a doctor's fasting instructions, which these drinks are designed to meet within specific timing. For more information on evidence-based practices in surgical recovery, refer to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society.

Conclusion

Ensure Surgery drinks offer a science-based nutritional approach to optimize patients for surgery and facilitate recovery. The Pre-Surgery drink provides carbohydrate loading to manage stress and blood sugar, while the Immunonutrition Shake supplies protein, arginine, and omega-3s to boost immune function and healing. Following a doctor's recommended regimen helps patients support their recovery and improve surgical outcomes, aligning with modern enhanced recovery protocols.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose is to provide targeted nutritional support to help a patient's body prepare for and recover from surgery. It offers specific nutrients like carbohydrates, protein, arginine, and omega-3 fatty acids to enhance immune health and improve healing outcomes.

Yes, there are two main types. The 'Ensure Pre-Surgery Clear Carbohydrate Drink' is used before surgery for carb-loading, while the 'Ensure Surgery Immunonutrition Shake' (containing protein, arginine, and fish oil) is used before and after for immune support and tissue repair.

According to typical Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, two bottles are often consumed the night before and one bottle up to two hours before the scheduled surgery time. However, you must follow the precise timing given by your healthcare provider.

Patients with Type 1 diabetes should not use the high-carbohydrate Ensure Pre-Surgery drink without specific medical instruction. Individuals with fish allergies should avoid the Immunonutrition Shake due to its omega-3 content. Always consult your doctor before use.

Yes, the Ensure Surgery Immunonutrition Shake is formulated with arginine and omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA) from fish oil, which can help support immune health and may reduce the risk of infection after surgery.

Pre-surgery carbohydrate loading helps fuel the body and prevent it from depleting its energy reserves. This helps reduce post-operative insulin resistance, and minimizes hunger, thirst, and anxiety during the fasting period.

No, these are not prescription medications. However, they are medical nutrition products intended for use under medical supervision. Your doctor or surgical team will provide specific recommendations and a plan for you to follow.