Dietary Guidelines for Laparoscopic Fundoplication

People often have difficulty swallowing solid foods for the first few weeks after this operation.

The entrance to the stomach has been tightened to reduce reflux and it its especially narrow initially, due to swelling.

Important points to remember:

  • A soft diet is required for 4 weeks after your operation.
  • Eat slowly and chew your food well.
  • Food should always be moist or served with plenty of sauce or gravy. It will then be easier to chew each mouthful to a smooth consistency before swallowing.
  • Blending foods can be helpful to ensure their texture is suitable.
  • Eat small frequent meals if you find it difficult to manage large amounts at meal times.

The aim of this diet is to help you choose nourishing foods that will be small enough in size to pass easily into your stomach.

The main “problem” foods are meat, chicken and bread because they are rarely chewed into small enough pieces. This can be avoided by ensuring they are pureed or minced finely.

To avoid constipation make sure you include suitable fibre sources (such as fruit, vegetables, porridge, softened weetbix, etc) and at least 6-8 glasses of fluid each day.

After 4 weeks, or whenever your doctor says you can progress to firmer foods, do so gradually. Try toast before soft, fresh bread. Try tender pieces of meat in stews or casseroles before you try steak or chops. Start with smaller serves and work up to your usual serve size.

You may also find that carbonated beverages such as soft drinks and beer may cause gastric discomfort or bloating as the release of gas through belching is more difficult after a fundoplication.

FOODS TO CHOOSE

BREADS AND CEREALS

Sloppy breakfast cereals

eg. Rolled oats, ‘WeetBix’, semolina

Over-cooked white rice

Over-cooked & mashed pasta & noodles

MEAT & MEAT ALTERNATIVES

Finely minced or pureed meat

Minced, finely diced or pureed chicken

Soft fish

Egg dishes eg. Scrambled eggs

Soft vegetarian meals eg. Lentils

FRUIT

Soft, peeled, mashed fruit eg. Banana, stewed apple, tinned peaches

Fruit juice

VEGETABLES

Soft, well-cooked vegetables eg. Mashed potato or mashed pumpkin

Pureed vegetables in soups

Finely diced vegetables

MILK & DAIRY FOODS

Milk and milkshakes

Fruit smoothies

Custard

Ice cream / frozen yoghurt

Rice pudding

Milk puddings (eg.Yogo or Fruche)

Yoghurt

Cheese melted into white sauce

Soft white cheese

FATS & OILS

Margarine, butter & oil in moderation

MISCELLANEOUS

Jam, honey, smooth peanut paste

Gravy

Sauces and condiments

FOODS TO AVOID

BREADS AND CEREALS

Bread

Biscuits

Cake

Cereal with nuts or dried fruit

Pastry eg. Meat pies, croissants

MEAT & MEAT ALTERNATIVES

All other forms of meat or chicken

Nuts and seeds

FRUIT

Fresh, firm fruit eg. Apple

Fruit with skin or pith eg. Grapes, citrus fruit

Dried fruit

VEGETABLES

Salad vegetables eg. Celery & lettuce

Lightly cooked vegetables eg. Stir-fry

MILK & DAIRY FOODS

Large pieces of cheese

FATS & OILS

Crisply fried foods

MISCELLANEOUS