preview

Elective Surgery Research Paper

Decent Essays

Millions of Americans undergo elective surgery. For many years overnight fasting, up to 12 hrs had been the recommended routine before elective surgery. This practice was instituted to reduce gastric acidity and to reduce the gastric volume for the risk of aspiration of stomach contents and during anesthesia. Patients who had stayed NPO for twelve hours have an increase in anxiety, thirst and fatigue. The combination of anxiety, thirst and fatigue led to poor patient satisfaction and resulted in a longer recovery time, extending postoperative care in the hospitals. The American Society of Anaesthesiologist changed their guidelines in 1999, allowing patients to have clear fluids up to 2 hours before their surgery and nothing to eat up to 6

Get Access