Pre-operative Bowel Preparation for Radical Prostatectomy-to be done the day before surgery

Clear liquid diet on the day before surgery taken for breakfast, lunch, and supper.

Allowed:

• Water
• Carbonated beverages (soda pop)
• Jell-O (no fruit added)
• Clear soup (bouillon, chicken or beef broth)
• Coffee and tea (without cream or milk added)
• Kool-aid
• Grape, apple or cranberry juice
• Lemon drops or other hard candy
• Sugar or sugar substitute
• Popsicles or Italian ice

Not allowed:

• Milk
• Alcohol
• Any fruit juice that is not clear (orange, tomato, grapefruit)
• All solid food

Drink plenty of water on the day before surgery to keep from becoming dehydrated.

Drink one 10 ounce bottle of Magnesium Citrate at 12 noon (available over the counter at your local pharmacy).

Magnesium Citrate is best tolerated when chilled well. Drink with a straw placed well back on the tongue.

Please take a shower on the evening prior to surgery and the morning of surgery.  Wash yourself head to toe twice during each shower using an antibacterial soap such as Phisoderm or Phisohex (available over the counter at your local pharmacy).  Doing so will help decrease the bacteria count on your skin and reduce the probability of wound infection.

You should avoid smoking for two weeks before surgery to help decrease risk of pulmonary complications peri-operatively.  Avoidance of tobacco before after surgery will improve your ability to heal. You should talk with your primary care physician regarding smoking cessation as soon as possible.  You will not be allowed to smoke while a patient in the hospital. 

Updated June 2007