Why should we be able to pass wind immediately after surgery? : procedures, safety, side effects, and benefits

Doctors and nurses will usually encourage each patient to fart immediately after surgery. Despite your embarrassment, it is very important that you follow these instructions to avoid the risk of unwanted complications arising after surgery.

What happens to your body during your surgery

Doctors usually recommend each patient to fart after surgery, especially after major surgery that requires the patient to be completely sedated under general anesthesia.

When you are under general anesthesia, most of your bodily functions will be temporarily “turned off” so that you will be unable to feel any sensations, cannot move, and will not be aware of anything that is going on during the procedure.

The anesthetic effect will slow down the bowel movements. This can increase the chance of intestinal obstruction, a complication called postoperativepost-operative ileus or POI.

POI ileus is a risk of fatal postoperative complications

Bowel obstruction (ileus) is the risk of postoperative complications to look out for because it can develop into a serious and potentially life-threatening situation.

Normal intestinal peristalsis is needed to process any food that comes from your mouth after you recover from surgery until it is finally thrown out through the anus. However, people often do not notice that their bowel movements are still slow after recovering from surgery and continue to eat. In fact, compared to other organs of the body, the intestine takes longer to fully recover from the effects of anesthesia after surgery.

This means that food will be allowed to continue to accumulate without being digested until it eventually hardens, causing intestinal blockage. Without treatment, the blockage can eventually bore or tear the intestine. This condition is known as intestinal perforation. The hole will cause intestinal contents, which contain a lot of bacteria, to leak into the cavity area of your body. This can lead to organ death and a deadly infection.

Farting after surgery is a sign you are avoiding the risk of POIs

The ability to be able to fart after surgery is the main sign for the team of doctors that the patient's digestive tract has completely recovered and is functioning properly, thus avoiding the risk of complications of POI.

Doctors even have the right not to let their patients go straight home if they haven't farted after an outpatient surgery. That's why farting is the most eagerly awaited thing in the hours after surgery.

There is no need to be embarrassed or panicked if you haven't farted after surgery

Farts are a sign that gas in your stomach is no longer trapped because your digestive system functions back to normal.

So, never hesitate or even be ashamed if caught passing gas after surgery. Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you've managed to pass gas. Vice versa. Tell your doctor immediately if you do not pass gas. If you haven't been able to pass gas, doctors usually don't allow you to eat after surgery.

To keep hunger at the same time stimulating gas, your doctor will likely recommend that you eat liquid foods such as juice or chew gum 3 times a day for 15-30 minutes.

While waiting for the fart to come on, also pay attention to the possible signs and symptoms of POIs such as: