ALIF Bowel Prep
Bowel Preparation Prior to Surgery
Before your operation, you must restrict your diet and take a laxative medication (GoLytely) to clear your colon of stool to maximize success during the operation.
Diet
Three days before your procedure, you should begin a “low-residue diet” to limit high-fiber foods, which your colon takes longer to clear.
High-fiber foods that you should avoid include:
- Whole-grain breads, oatmeal/cereals, granola
- Nuts, seeds, raw/dried vegetables or fruit (NO salads)
- Beverages with pulp
- Nutritional supplements that contain fiber
- Pepper, beans, corn/popcorn
Foods that you may eat include:
- Cream of wheat/grits, white rice, refined pastas/noodles
- Cooked fresh/canned vegetables and vegetables without seeds including asparagus, beets, carrots, mushrooms, green beans, potatoes without skin
- Bananas, soft cantaloupe, honeydew, avocado
- Chicken, fish, beef, pork, tofu, eggs
- Margarine, butters/oils, smooth sauces and dressings
- Cakes, cookies, pudding, ice cream without nuts or seeds, hard candy, popsicles, yogurt and cheese
Beginning one full day (24 hours) before your procedure, you must begin a clear liquid diet, which means that you should NOT eat any solid foods and should ONLY drink clear liquids. For example, if your procedure is on Thursday morning, you should not eat any solid foods for Wednesday breakfast, lunch, and dinner and should only drink liquids that are clear. Aim to drink at least 12 tall glasses (about 8-10 ounces each) of clear liquids throughout the day in addition to what you drink with your bowel prep solution/medication.
A clear liquid diet consists of drinking only “clear” liquids, such as:
- Water
- Mineral water
- Clear fruit juices without pulp (apple, white grape, white cranberry, lemonade, etc)
- Clear soft drinks
- Clear sports drinks
- Broth (chicken, beef, vegetable, or bone broth)
- Popsicles or gelatin (such as Jell-O)
- Coffee or tea (without milk)
- Ensure clear or other clear meal-replacement drinks
- Alcohol can make you dehydrated and you should not drink alcohol while preparing for your test.
After your procedure, you will be able to resume a normal diet, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.
Bowel Preparation for Anterior or Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Polyethylene glycol (GoLytely) solution (Split Prep)
- 2000 ml oral, 2 times daily
- Administer 2 liters (half of jug) at 5 PM the evening before the procedure and 2 liters (half of jug) at 4 AM the morning of the procedure.
- Starting at 5 PM, you should rapidly drink 8 ounces of solution every 10 minutes until half of jug (2 liters) is empty. Do not sip. If you become nauseated, decrease the frequency of 8 ounces of solution to every 20 minutes. Solution should be complete within 2 hours.
- The morning of the procedure at 4 AM, you should rapidly drink 8 ounces every 10 minutes until remaining 2 liters of solution are empty.
What to Expect
You will develop significant diarrhea after drinking the preparation. Plan to be near a bathroom. This is normal as it means the medication is working to clear stool from your colon. Most people feel mild bloating and mild abdominal cramps. This is normal. Drinking the prep medication more slowly and over a longer period of time can help alleviate these symptoms. A well-prepared colon produces yellow liquid. Please finish your preparation regardless of your stool color.