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Before Surgery

You can help us understand your medical health so that we can help care for you and minimize the risks of anesthesia.  After you have decided to proceed with surgery, your surgeon may have further tests that you will need to have done to help assess your health.  This can include blood tests, x-rays, electrocardiograms, or other tests. This information can help your surgeon and anesthesiologist ensure your safety during your procedure.  On the day of your surgery, prior to meeting your anesthesiologist, you will have a questionnaire to fill out detailing your health history.  This is often completed verbally by one of the preoperative nurses.  It will also be important to provide a list of all of your current medications (including herbals).  It is important that you follow all instructions regarding which medications you should continue taking prior to surgery and that you follow the fasting guidelines (below).  If you are instructed to take your medications on the morning of surgery, do so with a small sip of water.

Fasting guidelines

Safety is our highest priority as we care for you and in order to reduce the risk of potentially severe complications, we request that all patients follow these specific guidelines for fasting prior to surgery.  For safety reasons your surgery may need to be delayed or rescheduled if these guidelines are not followed.

Newborns to 6 Months of Age – Do not eat solids or drink milk 4 hours prior to surgery. You may have clear liquids* up to 2 hours before surgery.

Children 6 Months to 36 Months – Do not eat solids or drink milk 6 hours prior to surgery. You may have clear liquids* up to 3 hours before surgery.

Children 36 Months to 4 Years – Do not eat solids or drink milk 8 hours prior to surgery. You may have clear liquids* up to 3 hours before surgery.

Children 4 to 14 Years of Age – Do not eat solids or drink milk starting at midnight of the day before surgery. You may have clear liquids* up to 4 hours before surgery.

Children 14 Years and Older – Do not eat solids or drink milk starting at midnight of the day before surgery. You may have clear liquids* up to 6 hours before surgery.

 

*Clear liquids are: water, apple or white grape juice, coffee or tea without cream or milk, and Gatorade. Please do not eat/drink Jello, broth, gum, mints, hard candy, carbonated beverages or sodas.

 

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Disclamer

Pikes Peak Anesthesia Associates, P.C. (PPAA) provides the information on this website for general informational purposes only. This website provides only general information about PPAA and some of its services. Nothing about the content of this website constitutes medical advice or creates a physician-patient relationship. Because every person is different, no person should use the information provided in this website as a substitute for professional medical advice with an experienced health care provider familiar with particular health care needs. The patient experience before, during or after anesthesia may differ from the general information provided in this website, and patients should seek medical advice only from their particular physicians possessing information regarding their unique circumstances.

PPAA provides information on this website “as is” without warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information. Any link to other information or a citation to other authorities does not guarantee that the linked or cited information contains reliable, complete, current, or correct information or data. Users access information through this website at their own risk. PPAA disclaims any liability to any user or family member of any user with respect to any loss, damage, or expenses incurred in connection with use of this website. PPAA disclaims any guarantees or warranties, either expressed or implied, arising from the content of this website.