These guidelines are designed to improve patient safety and reduce the risk of complications during and after the procedure. Always follow the specific instructions provided by your treating physician or anaesthetist, as individual factors may require adjustments to these guidelines.
Clear liquids
You may consume clear liquids such as water, tea without milk, black coffee, and fruit juices without pulp up to one hour before your surgery, procedure, or examination.
Clear liquids leave your stomach quickly, making them safe when anaesthesia is used. For example, water passes through the stomach in just 12 minutes. Carbohydrate-rich drinks like some sports drinks take slightly longer but are usually gone within 90 minutes.
Other drinks
Non-clear drinks, such as milk or fruit juices with pulp, are allowed up to six hours before your surgery, procedure, or examination. It is better to avoid alcohol before your procedure, but if you do consume it, the same six-hour rule applies.
Babies under one year old may have formula or breast milk up to four hours beforehand.
Solid food
- Easily digestible foods, such as toast or yoghurt, can be eaten up to six hours beforehand.
- Fatty foods digest more slowly and can be consumed up to eight hours beforehand.
Examples
- White bread
- Dry toast
- Low-fat yoghurt
- Fruit
- ...
- Chips (french fries)
- Pasta
- Meat
- Sandwiches with toppings
- Fibre-rich fruit such as apples, pears, bananas or oranges
- ...
Medication
You may take all your regular medication, except blood thinners, as usual unless your anaesthetist or nurse provides different instructions.
Pregnant women are often prescribed specific medications to control stomach contents and acidity. This will always be discussed with you in advance by your doctor. Do not take such medication on your own initiative.
Frequently asked questions
Anaesthesia is a method used to temporarily reduce or block pain signals or consciousness during medical procedures. This can be achieved with medications that relax your whole body (sedation or general anaesthesia) or those that numb only a specific area (local or regional anaesthesia). Sometimes a combination of methods is used. An anaesthetist is always involved in these procedures.
Yes, fasting is required for all forms of anaesthesia, including regional anaesthesia (e.g., epidural or arm/leg numbing). This is because regional anaesthesia may sometimes need to be combined with sedation or switched to general anaesthesia during the procedure if the regional anaesthesia proves insufficient or does not last long enough, especially if the procedure is extended.
Fasting from midnight allows greater flexibility in scheduling your procedure, examination, or surgery.
If the appointment of the person ahead of you is unexpectedly cancelled, your procedure can be moved earlier if you have fasted long enough. Not eating after midnight can make a critical difference in such cases.
In some cases, depending on the schedule, you may exceptionally be allowed to have breakfast. If this applies to you, you will be specifically contacted.
In principle, you can take all your regular medication, except blood thinners, as usual unless the anaesthetist or nurse provides different instructions.
In some cases, the anaesthetist may prescribe additional medication in advance to ensure the procedure is safe. Examples include heart medications, drugs to prevent epileptic seizures, or medication to protect your stomach.