Clear Liquid Diet Prior to Surgery?

[CdnCrohnie]

Hello All,

I am scheduled for an ileocecal resection next week, and was told by the nurses and first year resident in my pre-op appointment that though I don't need to do any prep prior to surgery, I should be on clear liquids only for the day before. When I met with my surgeon afterwards, she said that I didn't need to do clear liquids the day before, but in the rush, I forgot to ask why.

Does anyone know the reasoning for the clear liquid diet just prior to surgery? I am trying to determine whether I can do just liquids (but not clear liquids) the day before. If it will make the surgery more difficult, create a higher risk of infection or require them to suction things out of me, I would rather just do clear liquids, even though that means that I will enter the surgery in a weakened state.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Kev]

OK, I'll go way out on a limb here, but I think it stems more from the anesthesia (sp) than from the surgery. If one opts for 'general' anesthetic, they prefer clear liquids.. but I think if you go epidural, then it really doesnt' matter. now, I 'WARN' you that's pure guess work, based on a vague memory of talking with the dr who was going to be the anestesologist (sp? why can't the medical profession use plain words?).. And I could be totally off the mark. perhaps you can call the nurse/receptionist for your surgeon, and ask this as a question? Or perhaps call the head nurse at the OR station of the hospital where you're going to have the operation? I've found talking to nurses about general questions like this to be a font of knowledge.. they seem to care more about how a patient feels than the doctors, especially surgeons and their huge egos