“Can anesthesia cause constipation?”

General anesthesia not only puts your brain to sleep, but also your bowels, and your brain recovers faster than your bowels, which is why nausea is common in the first few hours after general anesthesia. Constipation has many causes, the most common of which is a diet poor in fiber and roughage. If this is your diet before surgery, your constipation might be worse after general anesthesia. Also, opioids taken for pain relief have a strong constipating effect and should be discontinued as soon as possible. Finally, antibiotics that are routinely given to prevent infection can change your gut flora to cause irregular bowel habits. There are gut flora supplements you can take to replenish your normal gut flora and return to normal bowel habits.

With general anesthesia and surgery, patients often are given medications that may contribute to constipation, in particular opioid medications such as morphine, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and fentanyl, as well as other similar medications. Surgeons may also prescribe opioid medications for post-operative pain management (Percocet, Norco, Vicodin, etc.). In and of itself, constipation is usually not a serious problem. The best way to manage it is to maintain hydration (drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of fluid daily), have lots of fiber (like fresh leafy vegetables, Metamucil, or Benefiber), take a stool softener such as Colace, and perhaps a mild bowel stimulant like Senna or sennoside teas such as Smooth Move or Triple Ballerina.

Jay R. Shayevitz, MD, MS

Narcotics can but not other anesthetics

Hi,

It may, especially if the operation is on the stomach, small bowel, or large bowel, the so-called Gastro-intestinal Tract. With the advise of your physician, you may take laxatives such as laxatives such as Colace, Diulcolax, Meralax, etc. for relief.

Sincerely,

M. Tabatabai, MD, PhD

Constipation could happen not due to anesthesia per se, but due to a lack of usual activities after anesthesia or surgery.