This information explains how to do a bowel preparation for your orthopedic surgery. A bowel preparation is when you clean out your colon (large intestine). It’s often called bowel prep.
It’s important that your colon is clean and empty before your orthopedic surgery. Follow the instructions in this resource to do your bowel prep.
Buy supplies
Buy these supplies from any pharmacy. You don’t need a prescription.
- 1 (10-ounce) bottle of liquid magnesium citrate.
- 2 bisacodyl or saline enemas, such as Fleet® bisacodyl or saline enemas.
- Clear liquids. Examples are listed in the “Clear liquid diet” table.
2 days before your surgery
Drink 1 full bottle of magnesium citrate at 2 days before your surgery.
1 day before your surgery
- Start following a clear liquid diet. A clear liquid diet includes only liquids you can see through. The “Clear liquid diet” table has examples.
- Give yourself an enema in the morning. Follow the instructions on the package.
- Give yourself another enema 1 hour before you go to bed.
While you’re following a clear liquid diet:
- Do not eat any solid foods.
- Try to drink at least 1 (8-ounce) cup of clear liquid every hour while you’re awake.
- Drink different types of clear liquids. Don’t just drink water, black coffee, and tea.
- Do not drink sugar-free clear liquids unless you have diabetes and a member of your care team tells you to.
For people with diabetes
If you have diabetes, ask the healthcare provider who manages your diabetes what you should do while you’re following a clear liquid diet.
- If you take insulin or another medication for diabetes, ask if you need to change the dose.
- Ask if you should drink sugar-free clear liquids.
Make sure to check your blood sugar level often while you’re following a clear liquid diet. If you have any questions, talk with your healthcare provider.
Clear liquid diet
Here are examples of things you can and cannot drink while following a clear liquid diet.
| Clear liquid diet | ||
|---|---|---|
| OK to have | Do not have | |
| Soups |
|
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| Sweets |
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| Drinks |
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The day of your surgery
Instructions for drinking
Between midnight (12 a.m.) and 2 hours before your arrival time, only drink the liquids on the list below. Do not eat or drink anything else. Stop drinking 2 hours before your arrival time.
- Water.
- Clear apple juice, clear grape juice, or clear cranberry juice.
- Gatorade or Powerade.
-
Black coffee or plain tea. It’s OK to add sugar. Do not add anything else.
- Do not add any amount of any type of milk or creamer. This includes plant-based milks and creamers.
- Do not add flavored syrup.
If you have diabetes, pay attention to the amount of sugar in your drinks. It will be easier to control your blood sugar levels if you include sugar-free, low-sugar, or no added sugar versions of these drinks.
It’s helpful to stay hydrated before surgeries and procedures, so drink if you are thirsty. Do not drink more than you need. You will get intravenous (IV) fluids during your surgery or procedure.
Stop drinking 2 hours before your arrival time. This includes water.
Your healthcare provider may have given you different instructions for when to stop drinking. If so, follow their instructions.