no food before ops?

[Itchy]

Erm why? ,

when I had my nose put back in place they said don't eat before an op, when I had my face rebuilt they said don't eat before an op,

ditto some other events...

erm why?.


My thoughts are that the anesthetic may not work as planned and you'll wake up half way through the op , and be paralysed from the muscle relaxant drugs yet still be able to feel the operation cutting burning sewing etc and not be able to do anything about it, since anethesia is a very inexact science and the NHS apparently doesn't operate the brainwave / head phones arm tornquet technique so that if you do wake up you can tap your hand to get them to turn up the loopy juice.

Anybody care to clue me up on this?.

Ta
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[Dischord]

I've wondered, maybe because usually after an op you throw up alot and it wont make such a mess? But probably to make the drugs more effective as you say.
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[Mrs Kickstart]

Hi

It vastly reduces the chances of you chucking before or during the op.
Probably helps stop people peeing on the table
Regards
Charlotte
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[Icey]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nil_per_os

[MarJay]

I think its also so you're less likely to puke, then choke on your own puke or shit yourself during an operation.
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[Bella]

If you are having a surgery which requires a general anesthetic, the doctor will instruct you to withhold food and water for a set period of time before the surgery. Eating before surgery can be dangerous for a number of reasons, and most doctors prefer to err on the side of caution when it comes to patient safety. Each doctor has slightly different guidelines about surgical preparation, and you should always follow the directions of your doctor to ensure the best care, including directions about eating before surgery, even if they seem excessive to you. Different procedures have different requirements, and a doctor may have an excellent reason for imposing a strict fast on you. It is also important that children follow directions about eating before surgery, even if you need to fast with them to achieve cooperation.

The primary concern about eating before surgery is that general anesthesia causes nausea and vomiting. If the patient vomits while being anesthetized, there is a risk that the vomit could be aspirated into the lungs. This can be extremely dangerous and sometimes fatal if not addressed. During the procedure, vomiting or stomach reactions could also interfere with the anesthesiologist's equipment or the surgical site. Once the patient wakes up, he or she will feel nauseous and will be offered clear liquids and plain foods to help reduce the feeling of sickness.

As a general rule, no solid foods should be eaten less than eight hours before surgery. Patients can drink liquids until four hours before, although they should take small sips, and the liquids should be clear. The guidelines about eating before surgery are different for infants and small children, and you should consult your doctor.

In addition, you should eat lightly, but well, the day before surgery. Avoid heavy meals with lots of fat, as they take a long time to digest. Loading up on pizza the night before a surgery is not a good idea; having steamed fish with vegetables and rice is a much better choice. You should also refrain from chewing or sucking candies before surgery. Studies have also shown that recovery times are greatly reduced if smokers refrain from tobacco use for at least 24 hours before surgery.

Ultimately, the restrictions on eating before surgery are precautionary measures. Obviously, emergency surgery is performed on people who have eaten or drunk before the procedure, and when the choice is between saving a patient's life or waiting, the surgery will go forward. However, for elective or scheduled procedures, eating before surgery should be avoided, since it can lead to complications. If you do end up drinking or eating before surgery for any reason, tell the surgeon, and let the surgical team decide whether or not to perform the procedure.

Hope this helps.

B xx

[craigie b]

[gmanxiii]

i think its nausea, the dude in the bed across from me just came out of surgery. had some jelly then projectile vomited it straight away
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[stinkwheel]

And your chances of surviving after inhaling stomach contents have not significantly improved since the 1950's.

On a more personal note, since most patients are intubated with a cuffed tube, you are unlikely to inhale any gastric reflux unless you do it while they are inserting the tube (which is something I always thought human medics make a hell of a meal of considering how easily visible the human larynx is). What would happen however is all the puke would run out of your nose and stay there until you were concious enough to snort it out. This would be highly unpleasant.
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[Itchy]

aw shit you are in hospital!? , I must have buzzed (can you 12000 RPM) a completely innocent bystander
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[Nicky-Jano]

Apparently it is because when you go under anaesthetic you throat and stomach muscles relax, so pretty much anything that's in your tum is going to come back up.
When I had my teeth out a few years back I wasn't allowed to eat or drink for around 12 hours.

[gmanxiii]

[Louise]

6-12 Hours I couldnt eat.
I was told not to smoke for at least 12 hours before my op.

[Will]