Length of clear liquid diet

Can anyone explain to me why I would need to be on a clear liquid diet for 10 days prior to surgery?  I was actually down 5lbs between consult and PAT's.  I am baffled why I need to be on this for 10 days. Bill

Sure! Because your surgeon wants you to!  That's why.  Each surgeon has their own protocol and preferences which they find (hopefully) give them the best outcomes.  So follow their instructions to the letter.  If you need a more information, then contact your surgeon's office and ask them specifically why they have this requirement.  Unless someone on this board used your surgeon and asked them this question, no one on here would know for sure. All the best for an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery. Irene

Bill, There's a few medical reasons that this is required by some (not all) surgeons.  The first is that it cleans the bowels out.  Because during the surgery, they are rearranging your intestines (or bowels) it is best if there is little or no "residue" if you will The second, and quite possibly more important, reason is that it "shrinks" your liver.  Your liver doesn' t have to secrete enzymes to break down the food in your stomach, so it shrinks.  A lot of the actual surgery is performed very close to the liver, if it is shruken, this gives the surgeon just the little bit extra room to make sure they don't miss anything.  It also decreases the risk of "nicking" the liver, or gall bladder or pancreas (all hidden within the liver) which would not be a good thing. Good luck! Pam

The reason that I answered the way I did is so as to NOT imply that if a doctor doesn't require patients to do a 10 day liquid diet doesn't mean that doctor is putting their patients in jeopardy.  It really is often preference, what they've been taught, and also what they've learned that works with the procedure they do, their operating style for THEIR patient population.  Because one doctor requires a clear liquid diet when another does not, is not necessarily an indicator of surgical outcome. Some excellent surgeons require a liquid diet of varying length and some excellent surgeons do not require a liquid diet at all.  Above all, patients really should feel that they have an open communication with their surgeon's office and that their questions will be answered. Irene

If you took offense to my answer, I appologize.  My doctor did not require a clear liquid diet either, however, others in the same practice do.  Every practicing physician has his/her own preference for everything.  Just giving the medical side of it. Pam

Oh no, Pam, I didn't take any offense at all.  No apology needed!  I was simply explaining what on first read might be interpreted as a flip answer.  But my point was really contained in the end of my post: Every patient really should feel that they can contact *someone* at their surgeon's office and get an answer - a real answer - as to why THEIR surgeon does something.  It's important to have an ease of communication and good communication with the office/surgeon.  That's all I meant.  Irene

hi bill the liquid diet is to shrink your liver so it's not in the way -- most times the surgeon will have to move your liver to get to your stomach  good luck roberta