- Postoperative feeding
- How long should this diet be maintained?
- What you can't eat after surgery
- 3-day menu for appendicitis
Appendicitis is the inflammation of a portion of the large intestine called the appendix, and its treatment is done mainly through its removal through surgery and, because it is at the abdominal level, requires that the person have certain nutritional care during the first days after the operation to avoid possible complications.
The diet after appendicitis should be light, starting in the first 24 to 48 hours after the operation a diet of clear liquids (chicken broth, liquid gelatin, teas and diluted juices) in order to verify the person's tolerance to food and facilitate the functioning of the intestine, avoiding pain and discomfort and reducing the length of stay in the hospital.
Postoperative feeding
Once the person tolerates the liquid diet in the first 24 to 48 hours after the operation, it is possible to progress the diet to a more solid or mild consistency and easy absorption, which must be maintained for up to 7 days after surgery. Food should be prepared grilled, cooked or steamed, the most recommended being:
- Well-cooked and mashed vegetables, which can consume carrots, zucchini, eggplants and squash. Pear, apple or peach without skin, without seed and cooked, preferably; Fish, turkey meat or skinless chicken; Low-fat white cheese; Bread white and cream cracker cookie; oat porridge or cornstarch prepared in water; gelatin and fruit jelly; rice and boiled potatoes without skin.
It is also very important to drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water a day to prevent constipation and reduce the abdominal pressure that you need to evacuate. To flavor foods, it is possible to use aromatic herbs, such as oregano, coriander and parsley, for example. See other precautions to be taken after appendix surgery.
How long should this diet be maintained?
This diet should be maintained for about 7 days and, therefore, if the person does not show intolerance or complications, he may return to a balanced and healthy diet, of normal consistency, however it is important to incorporate the food in a progressive manner.
What you can't eat after surgery
During the immediate postoperative period, foods rich in fat, such as snacks, sausages, fried foods, butter, sauces and processed foods rich in sugar, should be avoided, as they are pro-inflammatory, hindering the healing process as well as digestion.
In addition, foods that can irritate the intestinal mucosa, such as spicy foods, pepper and caffeine-rich drinks, as well as foods rich in fiber, should be avoided, since their absorption at the intestinal level is slower and promotes an increase in the size of the intestines. feces, avoiding raw and shelled vegetables and fruits, whole foods and nuts.
Foods that favor the production of intestinal gases, such as beans, cabbage, broccoli and asparagus, for example, should also be avoided, as they can cause malaise and pain. Learn more about the foods that cause gases.
3-day menu for appendicitis
The following table shows an example menu of 3 days of a semi-solid diet for the postoperative period of an appendectomy;
| Main meals | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
| Breakfast | 1 cup unsweetened chamomile tea + 1 cup unsweetened oatmeal + 1 medium pear without skin and cooked | White bread with 1 slice of white cheese + 1 glass of unsweetened apple juice | 1 cup of linden tea + 1 wrap medium than white cheese + 1 small skinless and cooked apple |
| Morning snack | 1 cup unsweetened chamomile tea + 3 cream crackers | 1 glass of peach juice | 1 cup of gelatin |
| Lunch dinner | Chicken broth with carrot puree | 90 grams of sliced turkey breast with mashed potatoes accompanied by carrot salad and cooked zucchini | 90 grams of salmon or hake with pumpkin puree accompanied by boiled eggplant and carrot salad |
| Afternoon snack | 1 medium apple cooked and peeled | 1 cup unsweetened linden tea with 3 cream crackers | 1 medium pear, cooked and peeled |
The amounts included in the menu vary from one person to another, so the ideal is to be guided by a nutritionist so that a complete evaluation is carried out and the meal plan is determined according to the person's needs. In addition, it is important to respect the suggested recommendations to avoid possible complications.
