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Major Gyn Surgery (continued)

Bowel Preparation

Removing some or all stool (intestinal/bowel contents) from the bowel before surgery is another way to try and make the surgery as safe as possible for the patient. Keeping the surgical area as clean as possible and flattening out the bowel help the doctor doing the surgery and can decrease the risk of infection and other complications, for the patient. Different types of laxatives are used for this purpose, sometimes in combination with enemas. The patient may also be put on a clear liquid diet to decrease the tendency for the body to form more stool that could interfere with the surgery.
Examples of common laxatives required before surgery:

• Magnesium Citrate (Citroma)
• Colyte/Golightly
• Fleets phosphasoda
• Dulcolax tablets

Drinking a lot of clear fluid, water (an 8 oz. Glass every hour), etc… can help keep enough water or fluid in your system while you are on a laxative. It is important to plan to take the laxative and allow it to work (2-6 hrs), so that you will not be up all night going to the bathroom.

NPO after Midnight

This is the medical way of saying nothing by mouth after midnight. This is the usual instruction for the night before surgery. Keeping the stomach empty before and during surgery makes the anesthesia safer for the patient, with less risk of vomiting and complications such as pneumonia and other problems. Sometimes the doctor or nurse giving the anesthesia will allow the patient to take their regular medicines with a small sip of water in the morning, but it is best to ask to be sure.

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