Perioperative Fasting Journal of Nursing

Perioperative Fasting Guidelines as it relates to ERAS Protocol: Exploring Existing Modalities

Tags: anesthesia carbohydrate-rich drinks ERAS protocol NPO perioperative Perioperative fasting

For the longest time, any procedure requiring anesthesia was accompanied with perioperative instructions mandating a fast from midnight until the surgery. However, anyone that’s lived long enough has learned to understand that just because something has been done for a long time, it doesn’t mean it should be done for the rest of time. With technological advances and improvements in research, medical practices and patient instructions should evolve. Here, we’ll explore the rationale behind the old modality as it pertains to preoperative care and instructions, what’s changed in research and technology, and finally, what new modalities should be learned, taught, and implemented.