Diets & Medication

Medications
It is good to take the usual morning doses of medications for blood pressure, heart, lung and stomach conditions. Take all medications with small sips of water. Bring your inhalers with you to the hospital and operating room. If you take insulin for diabetes do not take it the morning before surgery. We will check your blood sugar upon arrival to the hospital prior to surgery.

NPO (Diet)
NPO means "nothing by mouth". The instructions to NOT eat or drink before anesthesia and surgery are for your safety. Anesthesia and sedation blunt the protective reflexes that prevent food and stomach contents from getting into the lungs. Particulate matter and the digestive acids secreted by the stomach can cause a life threatening pneumonia if they are aspirated into the lungs. Patients who are taking opioid narcotic pain medications, obese, pregnant, bowel obstructions, swallowing disorders, pain, anxiety, diabetes, hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux (indigestion) or emergency surgery have a higher risk of aspiration.

After midnight the night before your surgery, you can have only clear liquids such as water, clear tea, black coffee, or juice without pulp. You can have these up to 2 hours prior to your arrival time. Otherwise follow your surgeon's directions.