Instructions to
Nurses and Office Assistants on
Use of
Preoperative Fasting Handouts
When any patient is scheduled for an
elective procedure, the approriate Preoperative Fasting Handout should be
given to the patient or responsible adult looking after the patient with the
proper explanation.
1.
First
of all, ensure that the patient is not very obese, suffering from diabetes,
hiatus hernia, reflux oesophagitis, bowel diseases, or airway problems or is
having an emergency procedure. If the patient is having any of these
conditions, please ask the operator/surgeon or the anaesthetist concerned for
further advice as the guidelines may not be appropriate for the patient.
2.
Enter
the time of the operation in the appropriate box and fill up the various times
for the different categories of food and drinks. You may use the table on the
reverse side of this sheet to help you. Fill in the time for breast milk only
if the patient is still breast feeding.
3.
For
adults, in section 1, cancel the section that does not apply.
4.
Lastly,
make sure that the patient understands the different terms used, such as clear
fluids, breast milk, or infant formula/non-human milk.
If you have any problems, please refer either to the operator/surgeon or the anaesthetist concerned.