Quick Answer
It is common to poop during or after surgery. General anesthesia, bowel prep, pain medications, lack of physical activity, and other factors can all cause constipation or diarrhea after surgery. Surgeons are prepared for this possibility and will clean and replace soiled materials as needed. There are things patients can do before and after surgery to help prevent constipation or diarrhea. With patience and care, most post-surgical bowel issues resolve within a few days.
In Detail Answer
Surgery, especially abdominal surgery, often affects the bowels and digestive system. Changes in diet, medication, anesthesia, immobility, and stress can impact bowel function during the pre-operative and post-operative periods.
Why Pooping During Surgery is Common
There are several reasons why pooping during surgery is fairly common:
- General anesthesia – General anesthesia relaxes muscles throughout the body, including the anal sphincter. This can lead to an uncontrolled release of stool during surgery.
- Bowel prep – Many surgeries require a bowel prep to completely clean out the intestines. The laxative effect can linger into the surgery itself.
- Procedure location – Some surgeries, like those on the lower abdomen or pelvis, manipulate the colon and rectum directly. This stimulation can induce a bowel movement.
- Medications – Pain medications like opioids, as well as other drugs used before, during or after surgery can interfere with normal bowel function and cause constipation or diarrhea.
- Inactivity – After surgery, patients are often immobilized for a period of time, which can slow down the digestive process.
- Stress – The stress and anxiety of surgery can overstimulate the nervous system and influence gut motility.
For these reasons, it is quite common for patients to pass gas, liquid stool, or solid bowel movements during abdominal surgery or while recovering post-operatively. Surgeons are accustomed to this possibility and will clean up and replace any soiled surgical drapes and materials without causing disruption or harm to the patient.
Will I Poop During Surgery?
Many patients worry about pooping themselves while under general anesthesia during their procedure. The incidence varies, but studies show:
- Up to 61% of patients undergoing colorectal surgery experience incontinence during the procedure.
- 10-15% of women giving birth vaginally have a bowel movement during delivery.
- Up to 50% of c-section deliveries can result in defecation.
- One study found 7.4% of patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery had intraoperative defecation.
So while it may be somewhat common, not every surgery results in incontinence or passing stool during the operation. Factors that make it more likely include:
- Surgery directly involving the colon, rectum or anus
- Gynecological procedures
- Orthopedic hip operations
- Neurosurgeries in the sacral region
- Cardiac surgeries
- Lengthy operations
- Patients with conditions affecting bowel motility
Of course every person and operation is different, but if you are concerned, talk to your doctor about steps to minimize intraoperative defecation such as bowel prep, dietary changes and antidiarrheal medication.
Pooping After Surgery
While pooping during surgery may be unplanned and involuntary, bowel issues are very common after many surgical procedures.
In the post-anesthesia care unit and during the first days of recovery, it is normal to experience:
- Difficulty or inability to pass gas
- Abdominal distension
- Cramps and discomfort
- Constipation or loose stools
- Sensation of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement
This gastrointestinal dysfunction tends to resolve over the first week after surgery. Factors that contribute to post-operative bowel trouble include:
- General anesthesia side effects slowing the GI tract
- Pain control medications like opioids
- Reduced physical activity and bed rest
- Increased difficulty eating solid foods
- Dehydration
- Pain inhibiting movement and bowel contractions
To help stimulate regular bowel function after surgery, doctors recommend:
- Walking and lightly exercising as soon as permitted
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Eating high fiber foods
- Taking stool softeners or laxatives
- Setting a bathroom routine each day
Be sure to tell your doctor about any post-surgical constipation, diarrhea or other GI issues so they can provide or adjust medications to help. Call your doctor if you go more than 3 days without passing stool or gas.
Bowel Prep for Surgery
To help reduce intraoperative and postoperative bowel complications, many surgeons require patients to complete a bowel or colon cleansing preparation prior to certain procedures. This is referred to as bowel prep, colon prep or bowel cleansing.
Bowel prep typically involves:
- Drinking clear liquids for 1-3 days before surgery
- Taking laxatives, enemas or colonoscopy prep solutions
- Following a low residue diet of limited fiber foods
This emptying out of the bowels before surgery is done for several beneficial reasons:
- Cleaner intestines helps prevent contamination during intestinal surgeries
- Easier for surgeons to visualize the operative area
- Reduces risk of post-operative ileus, obstruction or infection
- Minimizes chances of intraoperative fecal incontinence
- Allows for easier passage of gas and stool after surgery
Surgeries that typically require more extensive pre-op bowel cleansing include:
- Colectomy
- Small bowel resection
- Low anterior colon resection
- Abdominal hysterectomy
- Bariatric surgeries
Be sure to follow all bowel prep instructions carefully to avoid dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Drink clear fluids up until 2-4 hours before surgery as recommended. Alert your doctor if you have kidney issues or cardiac conditions before taking strong colon prep products.
What Happens if You Poop During Surgery?
If you have a bowel movement or pass gas during your surgery, the surgical team is prepared and it is not cause for alarm. Here’s what happens if you poop on the operating table:
- The surgeon pauses the operation briefly and steps away from the sterile field.
- Assistants remove any soiled surgical drapes, pads and gauze from around the surgical site.
- Soiled materials are disposed of in a biohazard container.
- A bedpan or incontinence pad slide under your buttocks to collect further leakage.
- New sterile drapes and clean gauze are placed.
- The surgical site is inspected, cleaned and disinfected as needed.
- Surgery then continues as normal.
This process only causes a minor, temporary interruption to the procedure. Patients undergoing general anesthesia are completely unaware and have no memory of it occurring. Surgeons are highly trained to maintain a sterile surgical environment even when unexpected situations like defecation, bleeding or vomiting happen.
As long as the area is promptly cleaned and redraped, there is no increased infection risk or negative consequences. The surgical team’s only focus is on completing the operation safely.
What to Eat After Surgery for Normal Bowel Function
During your post-operative recovery, gradually resuming a normal diet will help restore regular bowel function after surgery. Here are some tips:
- Start with clear liquids – Attempt sips of water, juice, ice chips, popsicles, gelatin, broth.
- Add protein shakes and smoothies – The nutrients aid healing without taxing digestion.
- Move to soft, bland foods – Try saltine crackers, plain oatmeal, mashed potatoes, yogurt, pudding.
- Reintroduce high fiber foods – Add cooked vegetables, beans, lentils, bran cereals, whole grains.
- Stay hydrated – Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily.
- Limit greasy, fried, spicy foods – These can aggravate the GI system after surgery.
- Avoid straws – They can cause you to swallow excess air and gas.
- Ask about probiotic supplements – These support healthy gut flora.
Follow your surgeon’s specific diet and nutritional instructions based on your procedure. Notify your doctor if you have persistent nausea, vomiting or appetite changes preventing you from advancing your diet as expected. Proper nutrition aids all aspects of post-surgical healing and recovery.
Bowel Medications After Surgery
If constipation or diarrhea after surgery persists beyond a few days, your doctor may prescribe medications to help restore normal bowel function. Options include:
Stool Softeners
Emollients like docusate (Colace) that allow stools to pass more easily through the colon by increasing moisture content.
Osmotic Laxatives
Saline laxatives like milk of magnesia and magnesium citrate that help draw water into the colon to soften and bulk up stool.
Stimulant Laxatives
Stimulating laxatives like bisacodyl (Dulcolax), senna (Senokot), or sodium picosulfate that increase muscle contractions to propel stool through the colon.
Bulking Fiber Supplements
Psyllium (Metamucil), methylcellulose (Citrucel) and calcium polycarbophil that absorb fluid to physically expand stool.
Lubricants
Mineral oil that coats stools allowing easier passage through the colon.
Antidiarrheals
Loperamide (Imodium) and diphenoxylate with atropine (Lomotil) help slow GI motility, decrease stool frequency and make stools more solid.
Only take laxatives or antidiarrheals recommended by your doctor and be sure to stay hydrated when taking these medications. Call your surgeon if bowel function does not improve within a few days or if you have signs of an obstruction like vomiting, fever or severe abdominal pain.
Conclusion
It is quite common to pass stool during abdominal surgery or experience constipation or diarrhea after many types of procedures. Factors like anesthesia, surgery location, bowel prep, decreased mobility, diet changes and medications alter normal bowel patterns perioperatively.
Surgeons are prepared if any defecation occurs during a procedure and will pause to swiftly clean and redrape the area before continuing. Post-surgically, be patient giving your GI tract time to recover. Follow your doctor’s diet and medication guidance to help restore regularity. While bowel disturbances after surgery can be unpleasant, they generally resolve without complication within a few days.
