Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Colace BEFORE surgery?

I can't figure out why my pt was given Colace prior to surgery. He'd had a bowel movement the day before, but was complaining of severe gas pain. I saw him on Tuesday, and the surgery is scheduled for Thurs or Fri. I know the general bowel prep for surgery is enemas until clear, and I know he'd get Colace after surgery, but why before? Does it help with the bowel prep? I don't think Colace helps with gas...any ideas?

Oh, he had a tumor in the colon, so that's what the surgery is for.

THANKS!

Featured Replies

  • Guides

Colace is often given to surgical patients so that the stool is softened and they do not need to strain postop (and damage their surgical sites).

  • Experts

Colace isn't really a laxative, don't forget. It's an anionic stool softener; its mechanism of action is that it reduces surface tension of the oil-water interface of the stool resulting in enhanced incorporation of water and fat allowing for stool softening. So it will work on the products of digestion that are out of the reach of the usual bowel prep in that period of time post-operatively when many people become constipated due to narcotic analgesia and immobility. I doubt that anyone would want him to pass a large, hard, formed stool through an area that has had surgical intervention. Ouch.

  • Author

Thanks ladies...that coincides perfectly with what a senior student told me. For some reason all my references said "colace after surgery", but it makes perfect sense for him to have it prior, just to be doubly sure that all will flow easily post-op.

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
Go to topic listing

Currently Reading 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications
Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.