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COLON RECTAL SURGICAL ASSOCIATES, L.L.C.

James J. Zalucki, M.D. Ellicott City, MD 410.730.1712
Vincent Cifello, M.D. Glen Burnie, MD 410.760.9996

INSTRUCTIONS FOR POSTOPERATIVE HOME CARE

These instructions will help you have one or two soft stools a day. Individual responses will vary, and you may need to adjust the amounts of fiber/ stool softner/ laxative.

Normal Diet	With prune juice 4oz. each morning. Resume your preop medicines.
Activity as desired	No driving the car the day of surgery or if using prescription pain medication.
No Aspirin	Take Tylenol or Advil if the pain is not too severe.
Lortab	1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed for pain. DO NOT take Tylenol at the same time as Lortab. Lortab will be constipating.
Konsyl, Citrucel, Metamucil, or Benefiber	1 teaspoonful in a.m. & p.m. in a full glass of water or juice, and follow with a second glass of water or juice. If no BM for 24 hours, take Milk of Magnesia – 2 tablespoonfuls at bedtime.
Colace	(Stool softener) 2 capsules at bedtime – begin tonight
Warm Tub Baths	2-3 times a day for 10-15 minutes, after a BM, and as needed for pain relief. Do NOT use soap on the anal skin.
Baby Wipes	To clean the anal area after a BM and as needed.
A&D or Bacitracin Ointment	Apply to the anal area before a BM, after baths, and as needed.

Remove the dressing in the morning, and then apply a strip of cotton at the anal opening. Change as needed.

Please call your doctor’s office today to schedule a Follow-up Appointment for 3 weeks. Minor bleeding and improving anal pain are common. Call if you develop a fever, difficulty urinating, or worsening anal pain/swelling- esp. after the first 36-48 hrs

Disclaimer: The above are generalized instructions for the “average” patient. Any instructions given by surgeon on discharge specifically to you supersede those enumerated above.