Your Diet and Preparing for Surgery

Pre-Surgical Diet Guidelines

The pre-surgical diet guidelines below are for general purposes only. Your physician or surgeon may require you to follow an alternative plan. In that case, follow your physician’s instructions rather than the guidelines below.

Fourteen Days Prior to Surgery

Stop all nutritional and herbal supplements (vitamins/minerals/herbals).
EXCEPTIONS: The following are OK to continue: calcium, iron and vitamin D.

The Day Before Surgery

Follow your regular diet.

The Night Before Surgery

Drink at least 20-24oz (3 cups) of allowed clear fluids.
Do not eat any solid food after midnight (CLEAR FLUIDS ONLY after midnight).

Day of Surgery

Take CLEAR FLUIDS ONLY.
Drink at least 20 – 24 oz ( 3 cups) of allowed clear fluids 3 hours or more before your surgery.
If instructed, drink carbohydrate-rich drink (Ensure Pre-Surgery®, 10 oz), 3 hours before surgery,
COMPLETING PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL AT THE HOSPITAL.
NO DRINKING AFTER ARRIVING AT THE HOSPITAL

Clear Fluid Diet (any Meal)

Allowed	Not Allowed
Water Apple, cranberry and grape juice Gatorade Black coffee or tea Clear broth Ginger ale and seltzer Jell-O and Italian ice Chewing gum – DO NOT SWALLOW	Milk or dairy products (including in coffee and tea) Citrus juices Prune juice Juices with pulp Any food or beverage not listed in the ‘allowed’ column

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