Essential Things to Avoid Before Surgery
Adhering to your surgical team's instructions on what to avoid is paramount for your safety during any procedure. Eating or drinking before general anesthesia, for example, can lead to serious complications like aspiration, where stomach contents enter the lungs. Being honest and thorough with your medical team about your habits and medication use is crucial for a successful outcome.
The Crucial Fasting Rules: Food and Drink
One of the most well-known directives before surgery is the fasting rule, often summarized as "nothing by mouth" (NPO) after a certain time. This isn't an arbitrary rule but a critical safety measure to prevent potentially fatal complications under anesthesia.
Food Restrictions
For most elective procedures, you will be told to stop eating solid foods, including chewing gum and hard candy, at least 8 hours before your surgery. This allows your stomach to empty completely. Heavy, fatty, or protein-rich foods can take even longer to digest, so doctors often recommend a light meal the night before.
Drink Limitations
Your intake of liquids is also heavily regulated. While clear liquids—like water, black coffee, or apple juice without pulp—are often permitted up to 2 hours before the procedure, dairy products and juices with pulp are not. They take longer to process and increase the risk of aspiration.
Medications and Supplements: The Detailed Breakdown
Your anesthesiologist must know about every substance you ingest, from prescription drugs to over-the-counter supplements, as they can interact with anesthesia and affect recovery.
Medications That Affect Bleeding
Many common medications act as blood thinners and must be discontinued well before surgery to prevent excessive bleeding. This includes:
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Medications like aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve) should be stopped, often one to two weeks prior.
- Prescription Blood Thinners: Drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), and apixaban (Eliquis) must be managed carefully by your doctor before surgery.
Herbal Supplements and Vitamins
Supplements are not regulated like drugs and can pose risks by affecting clotting or interacting with anesthetics. A general recommendation is to stop taking all dietary supplements at least one week before surgery.
- Bleeding Risk: Vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, garlic, and ginger supplements can increase your risk of bleeding.
- Anesthetic Interference: Some supplements, like St. John's Wort, can interfere with how your body metabolizes anesthetics.
Anti-Obesity and Diabetes Medications
Certain modern medications, such as GLP-1s (e.g., Ozempic, Wegovy), delay gastric emptying, which increases the risk of aspiration. It is critical to discuss the timing of these medications with your anesthesiologist well in advance. If you have diabetes, managing your medication and blood sugar levels requires specific instructions from your healthcare provider.
Lifestyle Habits to Halt Temporarily
Your habits in the weeks leading up to surgery play a significant role in your recovery. Temporarily ceasing certain activities is crucial for the best outcome.
Alcohol Consumption
Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before surgery, and ideally for several days. Alcohol can impact your body's response to anesthesia and increase the risk of bleeding and dehydration.
Smoking and Nicotine Products
Smoking and vaping nicotine can compromise lung function and reduce blood flow, delaying wound healing. Quitting ideally six weeks before surgery, or at least stopping on the day of, is highly recommended.
Jewelry, Makeup, and Cosmetics
On the day of your procedure, you will be asked to remove all jewelry, including piercings. Makeup, lotion, and nail polish must also be removed. This allows the medical team to monitor your skin and nail color for signs of healthy circulation.
Comparison: Risks of Ignoring Pre-Op Instructions
| Action Ignored | Potential Surgical Risk | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Eating/Drinking too close to surgery | Pulmonary Aspiration (vomiting stomach contents into lungs) | Can lead to serious infection, pneumonia, or life-threatening complications |
| Taking blood thinners/herbal supplements | Excessive Bleeding | Impairs the body's natural clotting process, increasing surgical risk |
| Using nicotine products | Respiratory Complications | Increases risk of lung spasms, pneumonia, and reduces oxygen levels |
| Consuming alcohol | Altered Anesthetic Response | Can lead to a need for more anesthetic and increases dehydration and bleeding risk |
| Wearing nail polish/makeup | Inaccurate Monitoring | Impedes proper observation of skin and nail color, crucial for assessing circulation |
Conclusion
Preoperative guidelines are put in place for your safety. Following instructions meticulously regarding what to avoid before surgery—including specific foods, beverages, medications, supplements, and habits like smoking and alcohol—is your best course of action. Always communicate openly with your surgical team about your complete health history and any questions you may have. Your honest cooperation is key to minimizing risks and ensuring the best possible outcome for your procedure. For more information on safely preparing for surgery, consult reputable medical sources like The American Society of Anesthesiologists.
