Monday, June 20, 2016

Why Can't I Eat Before Surgery?

Why Can't I Eat Before Surgery?

Whenever people are told by their doctors that they have to fast before surgery, they often ask, “Why can’t I eat before surgery”? Generally speaking, your physician wants your stomach to be empty for a specific period of time to prevent any unnecessary medical complications. Your healthcare provider may refer to these fasting requirements as NPO, a Latin abbreviation meaning, “nothing by mouth”, and it’s a medical instruction for the person to withhold food and fluids for various reasons.





Why Can't I Eat Before Surgery?
An appropriate fasting period prior to elective surgery using anesthesia is essential for a person’s safety. Prior to the scheduled surgery, it is usually recommended that the person has nothing to eat or drink for a minimum of six hours, and preferably eight to 12 hours prior to the procedure start time. Some reasons for fasting include:



  • Gastrointestinal Surgery: If the surgery involves the gastrointestinal track, it has to be as empty as possible before surgery to prevent leakage into the abdominal cavity that will lead to infection. Preparation for gastrointestinal surgery usually begins days before the procedure, because surgeries involving the digestive system require fasting, laxatives, and special drinks. Important note; not following the altered diet for this surgery can lead to cancellation of the procedure by your surgeon.

  • Elective Surgery: NPO (fasting) guidelines are used prior to surgery to help prevent fluid or food from your stomach from being inhaled into your lungs (pulmonary aspiration) during surgery, which can cause a lung infection and lead to aspiration Pneumonia. Important Note; Eating shortly before elective surgery may also lead to postoperative nausea and vomiting. Vomiting after surgery can be very painful, because the incision and your throat can already be sore from the procedure itself.
    Do not be tempted into consuming a heavy meal before you begin fasting. Just remember that heavier meals can defeat the whole purpose of fasting, because it takes longer to digest. Choose a light meal instead, such as soup and salad as a final meal before surgery.


Preparing for Surgery
During one of your preoperative visits, carry an up-to-date list of all your medications, along with the dosage, from your primary care doctor, and share the list with your surgeon and anesthesiologist. As it relates to certain medications, your doctor will instruct you on how far ahead of the surgery to stop taking them. The attending nurse should also place a copy of the list in your chart.


1. Your Medications


A couple of weeks before the surgery, your surgeon may have told you to stop taking blood-thinning medications. It’s important to safely manage anticoagulants, including:



  • Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)

  • Aspirins

  • Naproxen (Aleve)


Remember to take only the medication your doctor has approved before surgery, including prescription medicines. Avoid taking any herbs, supplemental vitamins, or minerals before surgery unless your doctor has approved them. If you have any questions about which medication you can take before surgery, call your surgeon. On the day of surgery, bring the list of your medications, including any that you were told not to take. Make sure to take note of the time/dose, and bring all medications in their original containers.


2.Wash Yourself


Feel free to bathe or shower either the night before and/or the morning of surgery. If the doctor or nurse has given you a medicated soap to use, follow the instructions for how to use the soap. If you weren’t provided medicated soap, use antibacterial soap purchased from your local pharmacy. You don’t need to shave the area that will be operated on. If any shaving is necessary, the surgeon or nurse will do that at the hospital. Remember to scrub your fingernails with a nail brush, and remove any nail polish, jewelry, and makeup before you arrive.


3.Report Unusual Symptoms


If you’re not feeling well before or the day of surgery, call your doctor's office. Symptoms the surgeon needs to know include:



  • Any new skin infections, or Skin Rashes, including a herpes outbreak.

  • Cold or flu-like symptoms within two weeks before surgery

  • Cough

  • Fever

  • Stomach viruses

  • Chest pain/shortness of breath


4.Aerobic Exercise


Aerobic exercise, such as jogging/walking, bicycling, or swimming may improve your lung function. Additionally, practice deep breathing exercises to improve lung capacity. The idea behind aerobic and deep breathing exercises is to expand the tiny air sacs in your lungs called alveoli to their fullest potential. After anesthesia, the alveoli may collapse and cause a condition called Atelectasis, which can lead to a complete or partial collapse of the lungs, and deep breathing exercises could help prevent atelectasis.


5.Improve Your Nutritional Status


Your nutritional status is the condition of your body that is influenced by your diet, your level of nutrients, and the ability of those levels to maintain your normal metabolic integrity. Improving your nutritional status helps your body with healing after surgery. One of the ways your surgeon can assess your nutritional status is by testing the level of a protein call albumin in a blood test. Medical experts agree that low levels of albumin can result in worse outcomes for patients undergoing surgery. Attention to nutrition is even more important for patients with Diabetes, because high glucose levels are toxic to cells and disrupt normal wound healing.


6.Avoid Smoking


Surgery might be a good reason to quit smoking. The smoke from cigarettes causes poor wound healing, because not only does nicotine cause the blood vessels to constrict, decreasing oxygen rich blood to the cells of the wound, it also contains toxins that impede wound healing. If you can’t quit, at least avoid smoking during the healing process to help your wounds heal faster.


7.Take Necessary Items with You


Taking necessary items with you can help make your surgery more comfortable. Depending on the type of surgery you're having, follow any instructions from your doctor or nurse.



  • Clothing items:
    A lightweight bath robe
    Sweatpants or shorts
    A pullover shirt
    Flat shoes with non-slip soles
    Change of clothes to go home (loose fitting and comfortable)

  • Personal care items:
    Toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant
    A razor (electric only)
    Eyeglasses (instead of contact lenses)

  • Other items:
    A small amount of cash
    Crutches, cane, or walker
    Reading material (books or magazines)
    Important telephone numbers (friends and relatives)

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