No evidence to support the practice of having patients fast prior to surgery to prevent post-surgery vomiting

Medical Xpress / University of California, Los Angeles / Surgery ^ | June 24, 2025 | Stephanie Lam et al

[Chickensoup]

Actually in surgical aspiration also an issue.

[IamConservative]

Most peoples metabolic function is not flexible enough to fast 24hrs. Most eat so many carbs in processed foods that they become hypoglycemic if they miss one meal.

[Chickensoup]

Bingo!

Here is truth

[MayflowerMadam]

“I am not terribly bothered by fasting prior to a surgery. “

Ditto. It’s the no drinking part that bothers me because ... coffee. The headache after surgery is excruciating.

[sauropod]

.

[BitWielder1]

It was so obvious, yet it was incorrect.

[ozarker]

It is to help prevent vomiting and aspirating during induction and intubation. You really don’t want vomit in your lungs.

[Savage Beast]

Maybe so, but if I have to have surgery, it’s going to be on an empty stomach. No gastric reflux under anaesthesia for me.

[anton]

This is pure common sense.

Anyone with a significant history of gastroesophageal reflux knows that fasting before lying horizontal in bed or strenuous acrobatics works 100% of the time. For me, 3 to 5 hours works but 6-12 is a better plan. I have not had an acid reflux event in 11 years due to every day fasting from 6pm to bedtime.

[F450-V10]

I expect the common usage of the Ozempic-type weight loss injections will solidify the fasting requirements. Liraglutide, the same class of diabetes drug, postponed stomach emptying in me for many hours. A dozen times in bed, after going to sleep, I’d awaken barely in time to prevent gastric contents ‘reflux’ being inhaled many hours after eating. I think these users shouldn’t consider pushing the margin of fasting and maybe even prolong it. Be aware of this before using these meds...it brought me more risk than the weight loss was worth.

[msrngtp2002]

Every surgery I have, whether fasting or not, I throw up. Had open heart and fasted because I was in the hospital thus they controlled my food. In the ICU I thew up. Had shoulder rebuilt...yep threw up. Every time so I tell the staff to have emisis pans ready. The one time I didn’t vomit was an emergency. I had already eaten when I ended up in the er and had to have anesthesia (years ago). That time I didn’t throw up so maybe there is something to this study.

[Vaduz]

Check the less things moving around the better after an operation.

[Svartalfiar]

Hmmm, last time I had knee surgery when getting a ride home I had to have the guy stop the car so I could puke on the side of the road. My rule is that when you have to puke be neat about it.

Hmm. Every time I've had a relative get surgery, they gave us a throw-up bag for the ride home.