Eating or drinking too close to surgery involving generalanesthesiamay result in your surgery being postponed.
Fasting is also typically required before procedures that use regional anesthesia (like an epidural) or IV sedation.
However, you generally do not need to fast before local anesthesia ornitrous oxide(laughing gas).
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
This article explains how long you should fast prior to surgery, according to the latest guidelines.
What Happens If You Eat Before Surgery?
It can also cause complications for surgeries involving your digestive system.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Aspiration
Aspirationis when something you eat or drink goes down your airway.
If this happens while you’re awake, your body reacts.
You may cough, gag, or even vomit.
Eventually, you will get the substance out of your airway.
Undergeneral anesthesia, you could’t react to aspiration.
This is because you are unconscious, and your muscles are paralyzed.
You aren’t able to cough anything up.
You will also have a tube called anendotrachealtubein your throat.
This tube helps you breathe but can make it easier to aspirate.
It can also make it harder for medical staff to realize what is happening.
Aspiration can lead to aspiration pneumonia.
This is a lung infection triggered by inhaling foreign material.
Aspiration is most common during general anesthesia.
However, it can also happen when a patient is sedated or too sick to protect their airway.
It is much easier to prevent than to treat and control after it starts.
you could avoid PONV if your stomach is empty when under anesthesia.
If you eat or drink before GI surgery, your surgery may be canceled or rescheduled.
In some cases, bowel preparation is done before GI surgery.
You typically do not need to fast before local anesthesia or nitrous oxide.
How long you should probably fast prior to surgery has changed over the years.
However, some procedures may have different requirements.
Always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for fasting prior to surgery.
These recommendations apply only to healthy patients undergoing elective procedures that do not require a bowel prep.
Always follow your surgical team’s recommendations for how long to fast before surgery.
Can I Chew Gum Before Surgery?
What’s more, studies show chewing gum can help to relieve pre-surgical anxiety.
Patients are reminded to remove gum prior to receiving any sedation.
Examples include:
Hydrate, preferably with water.
Your urine should be clear and mostly colorless.
Taking these steps in the days before surgery can help sustain you through the fasting period.
If you are well hydrated before you fast, you may feel less thirsty during your fast.
Unfortunately, this could defeat the purpose of fasting.
Instead, have a light meal like soup and salad.
A heavy meal takes longer to digest.
People who have delayed gastric emptying may need to avoid fat and protein for longer.
For most people, a light, low-fat meal can be eaten up to six hours before surgery.
This can include toast or crackers with juice or coffee or a small bowl of cereal with milk.
After this, adults can drink clear fluids up until two hours before surgery.
Diabetes and Fasting for Surgery
Fasting may cause problems for people withdiabetes.
If so, plan to take pills with the smallest sip of water possible.
Do not take your medication if the surgeon does not say you should.
Summary
Fasting before surgery helps prevent complications.
This includes nausea, vomiting, and aspirationwhen you inhale food or fluids that were in your stomach.
Aspiration can lead to a serious lung infection.
In the days before your pre-surgical fast, eat lean proteins and stay hydrated.
If a bowel prep is needed before your procedure, follow your surgeon’s instructions for fasting.
Eating or drinking too close to surgery will undo the bowel prep.
you could have a light meal up to six hours before surgery.
This includes soup, salad, toast, crackers, or a bowl of cereal.
Clear liquids are typically allowed up to two hours before surgery.
If you have diabetes, ask your surgeon how to manage low blood sugar while fasting.
Clear liquids may be allowed up to two hours before surgery.
Likewise, if you take any daily medications, seek guidance from your healthcare team.
Adhering to these guidelines contributes to our common goal of a smooth anesthetic and procedure.
