Preoperative Fasting Recommendations

  1. Patients should be assessed for gastroesophageal reflux disease, dysphagia symptoms, or other gastrointestinal motility disorders preoperatively as they may require individual recommendations for perioperative fasting (Level of evidence: Low)
  2. Patients should be encouraged to drink clear fluids up to 2 hours before anesthesia administration. Clear fluids include coffee and tea (without milk), and drinks that are high in carbohydrates (i.e. apple juice and pulp-free orange juice) (Level of evidence: High)
  3. Patients can consume breast milk up to 4 hours prior to anesthesia administration (Level of evidence: Low)
  4. Patients should be allowed to eat solid foods until midnight the night before surgery (Level of evidence: High)
  5. The routine use of antiemetics, antacids, H2 blockers and gastric stimulants are not recommended (Level of evidence: Low)
    1. These medications should be considered when GI motility is impaired or patients are not NPO but require an urgent surgical intervention.