About one in three Americans struggle with obesity, according to the website Mayo Clinic. Those with a body mass index of 40 or higher -- about 100 pounds of excess weight -- may decide to undergo bariatric surgery to assist them with weight loss. Preparation for the procedure includes quitting smoking, undergoing intensive physical and psychological assessment and preparing the body for surgery.
Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery, also called weight-loss surgery, helps morbidly obese individuals lose significant amounts of weight. Some bariatric procedures, including the Lap-Band or adjustable gastric band, restrict the size of the stomach to limit intake. Others, such as the biliopancreatic diversion, reroute the digestive system to cause malabsorption of some nutrients. Combination procedures such as the gastric bypass combine restriction and malabsorption to speed weight loss. Preparation for any bariatric surgery procedure involves some dietary preparation.
Purpose
Preoperative clear liquid diets help clear the bowels of stool prior to bariatric surgery. Called a bowel prep, the procedure requires taking a strong laxative such as magnesium citrate or an enema the day before surgery to evacuate the bowels of stool. To prevent forming new stool, patients drink only low-residue, clear liquids. An effective bowel prep helps to prevent contamination during surgery and to rest the bowel after the procedure.
Time Frame
Surgeons' instructions vary, but generally patients begin the clear liquid diet one or two days before the scheduled procedure. In some surgical practices, you may drink any type of liquid until noon on the day before surgery and begin only clear liquids after lunch, according to the University of Wisconsin. In others, you begin clear liquids at breakfast on the day before surgery. Stop drinking fluids at midnight unless instructed to take your medications with a sip of water. After surgery, you follow the same diet for the first day or two, according to your surgeon's instructions.
Clear Liquid Guidelines
Clear liquids are non-dairy fluids that cause minimal residue in the digestive tract, according to Lillian Craggs-Dino, R.D., in a diet manual published by the Cleveland Clinic. A clear solid, such as gelatin or Popsicles, also qualifies as a clear liquid. Bariatric surgery patients must limit clear liquids to those containing no sugar or caffeine in preparation for postoperative eating patterns. Drink as much as you like of the clear liquids, at least 64 oz. during the day. Do not add fruit or other solids to any of your liquids.
Permitted Liquids
Select a variety of sugar-free clear liquids at varying temperatures to avoid boredom on the diet. Permissible cold fluids include water, either plain or flavored with a sugar-free drink mix; Diet Snapple; diet iced tea; Propel; sugar-free lemonade; and flavored, sugar-free bottled water, according to Craggs-Dino. Hot clear liquids include caffeine-free tea, broth and clear consomme, any flavor. Clear solids include sugar-free gelatin and Popsicles. Unless otherwise instructed, you may also drink clear liquid protein supplements, including New Whey, Nectar, Isopure, Enlive or Resource to boost your protein intake. If your surgeon permits juices, limit them to those without pulp such as apple or grape, according to the University of Wisconsin.
References
- ASMBS: ASMBS Allied Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patients
- Duke Health: Preparation Instructions for Weight Loss Surgery
- Cleveland Clinic: Medical Nutrition Therapy for Gastroparesis
- Highland Hospital: Bariatric Surgery Preparation
- University of Wisconsin: Gastric Bypass Surgery
- MayoClinic.com: Obesity: Treatment and Drugs
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