INTESTINAL OPERATION: STANDARD BOWEL PREP

What Is General Surgery / General Surgery Procedures / Patient Instructions
About Dr. Vazquez / Our Philosophies / Administrative Policies

Patient Name____________________________________________

Date of Operation________________________________________

Time to report to 5th Floor Galter ASU (ambulatory surgical unit)______________
 
 

For the purposes of safety, a thorough, cleansing of the colon is required. Early preparation consists of modifying dietary intake starting 72 hours before the procedure.

THREE DAYS PRIOR TO SURGERY Date:____________

Begin to remove hard-to-digest items from your diet. Examples of such items are corn, spinach or other items of roughage which you have noted pass through your system only partially digested. Switch your diet to breads, pastas and other refined food items.
 
 

TWO DAYS PRIOR TO SURGERY Date: _______________

Further decrease dietary intake of any roughage and begin to eat a more liquid diet. Foods such as jello, juices, cereals, breads and pastas or noodles are examples of such food.
 
 

The purge should take effect in 4-6 hours. If this does not occur, adminster a disposable enema, such as Fleets (R).

If the purge seems ineffective or incomplete call Dr. Vazquez's office.

Remember to take your regular prescription medications with some water. Such medications include hypertension medication, thyroid hormones and most other medications except those that affect blood coagulation such as Coumadin, aspirin or ibuprofen. If you have questions regarding the taking ofthese medications around the time of your exam, ask Dr. Vazquez about these issues.

In general do not take aspirin or aspirin containing medications for 1 week prior to your operation. Internal bleeding might occur ifaspirin is in your system.
 
 

These items are allowed:

Water

Clear Broths:

Chicken broth, Beef broth

Apple juice or cider, Prune juice, Grape juice, Grapefruit juice (strained), Cranberry juice, Tang, Hawaiian Punch, Lemonade (strained), Kool Aid

Tea

Coffee

Clear Jello (without fruit)

Popsicles (without fruit/without cream)

Italian Ices

These items are not allowed:

Milk

Cream

Milkshakes

Orange juice

Tomato juice

Cream soups

Any soups other than clear broth

Oatmeal

Cream of Wheat
 
 

Please Note:

You are allowed unlimited amounts of clear liquids until 10:00 pm of the night prior to your surgery. You should drink as much fluid as possible until 10:00 pm to prevent dehydration from the laxatives prescribed.

Anything you can hold up to the light and see through is considered a clear liquid.

Please feel free to e-mail Dr. Vazquez with any medical questions,

or contact our office with any other questions.

Richard M. Vazquez, M.D., F.A.C.S.

201 East Huron Street

Suite 11-250

Chicago, Illinois 60611

(312) 649-6562