patient education : 16006--Nutrition Guidelines Post-Esophagectomy (Diet)

Nutrition Guidelines Following Esophagectomy

Why do I need this diet?

This diet is designed to exclude foods and drinks that might impair how you swallow or hurt the throat after surgery. This diet will also help you get enough calories and protein. This will help you heal and return to your normal life as soon as you are able.

Diet Progression

Follow all instructions provided by your surgeon and healthcare team.

You are to have nothing to eat or drink for      days after surgery or until                                                                                                    .

When directed by your surgeon, you may begin a liquid diet.  You may be instructed to start with a clear liquid diet. Clear liquids include juices, broth, and jello (no carbonated drinks).

After clear liquids, you will advance to a full liquid diet. Full liquids are foods and beverages like broths, strained cream soups, milk, milkshakes, pudding, custard, popsicles, sherbet, vegetable and fruit juices, and other drinks that are not carbonated.  Follow a full liquid diet for two weeks unless otherwise instructed.

When your surgeon says you can begin solid foods, you may advance to the post-esophagectomy soft diet (see the chart below).  This is usually about ~3 weeks post-surgery but that may vary. You will need to follow this soft diet until your post-surgery follow up visit.

Once your body has had time to heal, you can slowly resume a normal, healthy diet. At your first post-operative appointment, your doctor or nurse will let you know if you can start eating different foods. Keep in mind that you may always need to eat small, frequent meals.