Fasting Before Your Operation/Procedure

You are scheduled to undergo an operation or procedure at about ___:___ a.m./p.m. on ___/___/______ requiring general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, or sedation/analgesia (i.e., monitored anesthesia care) and in order to ensure the safe conduct of your anaesthetic, it is essential that you follow the instructions given below.

N. B. In the following instructions, clear fluids include water, glucose water, Ribena, fruit juices without pulp like apple juice, carbonated beverages, clear tea (without milk), and black coffee (without milk). These liquids should not include alcohol, milk, Milo, or soups.

If You Are an Adult (All Those Above the Age of 12 Years)

  1. If your procedure is scheduled for the morning list, that is before 1:30 p.m., do not take any solid foods from the midnight before your procedure.
  2. If your procedure is scheduled for the afternoon list, that is at or after 1:30 p.m., you should have a light breakfast e.g. a maximum of 2 slices of bread (without butter or margarine) or 4 pieces of biscuits with clear fluids before 7:30 a.m.
  3. You may have clear fluids up to 2 hours before the scheduled time of your procedure, that is up to ___:___ a.m./p.m.

If You Are 12 Years Old and Below

Ingested Material

Minimum Fasting Period

Latest Time for Item

Light meal 1

6 hours

a.m./p.m.

Infant formula or other non-human milk

6 hours

a.m./p.m.

Breast milk

4 hours

a.m./p.m.

Clear fluids

2 hours

a.m./p.m.

1 A light meal typically consists of toast (without butter or margarine) and clear liquids. Meals that include fried or fatty foods or meat may prolong gastric emptying time to 8 hours or more.

Please follow the above guidelines to help us ensure that your anaesthetic is a safe and uneventful one.

Note

If you are very obese, are suffering from diabetes, hiatus hernia, reflux oesophagitis, bowel diseases, or airway problems or are having an emergency procedure, the above recommendations may not apply to you and you should get further advice from the surgeon or anaesthetist taking care of you.