Tag: Preoperative guidelines

The simple instruction to avoid food and drink before a procedure is a cornerstone of surgical safety protocols. Ignoring these guidelines and not adhering to fasting rules before anesthesia can lead to life-threatening complications, making this seemingly minor instruction profoundly important for patient safety.

Decades ago, the standard advice for surgery was a blanket “no food or drink after midnight”. However, modern guidelines are more nuanced, offering greater flexibility and comfort to patients. Understanding how many hours before surgery must I stop eating is crucial for patient safety and to prevent the risk of procedural delays or cancellation.