Bowel Preparation

Your physician or the surgical coordinator will let you know if a bowel prep is required prior to your surgery.  If you are not sure, ask. The purpose of a bowel prep is to decrease the chance of a bowel injury during surgery and is required if someone is suspected or known to have scar tissue.  A bowel prep is also required if there is a concern that cancer may be present. 

Pre-Operative Bowel Prep 

Please follow these instructions carefully:

You will need to purchase a Fleet's Phospho-Soda Prep Kit Number II. We will give you a prescription to purchase this.

24 hours prior to your procedure, start a clear liquid diet*
4:00 p.m. the night before the procedure, drink the phospho-soda mix with 4 oz of water.
7:00 p.m. the night before the procedure, take four Ducolox (biscodyl) tablets with 8 oz of water. Drink only water afterwards.
The evening before the procedure, use the Fleet's bag enema.

THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR SURGERY: Have nothing to eat or drink after midnight. This includes hard candy and gum. You may brush your teeth and rinse your mouth. Please take your morning medications with just a sip of water, if instructed by your doctor to do so.

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*Clear Liquid Diet

These Items are Allowed:

1. Water
2. Clear broths — chicken or beef
3. Juices without pulp, such as: apple juice, apple cider, prune juice, grape juice, grapefruit juice
4. Tang, Hawaiian Punch, lemonade
5. Soda
6. Tea
7. Coffee
8. Clear Jello (without fruit)
9. Popsicles (without fruit/without cream)
10. Italian Ices/sherbets
11. Hard candy such as Lifesavers
12. Salt, pepper, and sugar may be used

These Items are NOT allowed:

1. Milk
2. Cream
3. Milkshakes
4. Orange juice
5. Tomato juice
6. Cream soups, or any soup other than clear broth