The patient should discuss with the anesthesiologist any medications or conditions that might affect the administration of anesthesia. Aftercare Patients who have had a vagotomy stay in the hospital for about seven days. For the first three or four days, nasogastric suctioning is required. A tube is inserted through the nose and into the stomach. The stomach contents are then suctioned out.
Patients eat a clear liquid diet until the gastrointestinal tract is functioning again.
When patients return to a regular diet, spicy and acidic food should be avoided. It takes about six weeks to fully recover from the surgery. The sutures that close the skin can be removed in seven to ten days. Patients are encouraged to move around soon after the operation to prevent the formation of deep vein blood clots. Pain medication, stool softeners, and antibiotics may be prescribed following the operation.