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What Causes Whitish Stool Post An Esophagectomy?
Question: My husband had an esophagectomy on April 26. He has been on tube feeding until yesterday. Today when he had a bowel movement, his stool was a light gray to whitish color. Should we be alarmed about this? What could be causing this?
Brief Answer:
Quite normal after major bowel surgery.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for trusting Healthcaremagic!
I have gone through your query and I can understand your concerns.
Pale coloured stools are quite common after major bowel surgeries including esophagectomy. It could be due to absorption problem following a sudden change in bowel pattern.
Other possibility is that after surgery, we provide blank diet which is low on oil/fat, these oil free diet produce pale coloured stool.
The yellow colour of the stool is due to bile and bile products, the biliary system will be dormant after major surgery. It might be another probable reason for pale coloured stool.
If the stool colour remains white for long or he develop symptoms like jaundice or itching consult your surgeon to rule out any obstruction in his bile system.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards
Dr Shinas Hussain
Quite normal after major bowel surgery.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for trusting Healthcaremagic!
I have gone through your query and I can understand your concerns.
Pale coloured stools are quite common after major bowel surgeries including esophagectomy. It could be due to absorption problem following a sudden change in bowel pattern.
Other possibility is that after surgery, we provide blank diet which is low on oil/fat, these oil free diet produce pale coloured stool.
The yellow colour of the stool is due to bile and bile products, the biliary system will be dormant after major surgery. It might be another probable reason for pale coloured stool.
If the stool colour remains white for long or he develop symptoms like jaundice or itching consult your surgeon to rule out any obstruction in his bile system.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards
Dr Shinas Hussain
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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