Your safety is central to everything we do. As such, we want to ensure that you have not eaten or drunk anything prior to your surgery as specified below. The rationale for pre-operative fasting is that all sedative and anaesthetic drugs will impair the protective reflexes that prevent stomach contents from being regurgitated into your lungs (“aspiration”). Aspiration can cause very serious illness, and one of the ways we minimise this risk is to ensure you are appropriately fasted.

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists’ current recommendations (Professional Statement 15) for healthy patients having elective surgery are as follows:

Note: “Clear fluids” includes a glass of water, black tea, black coffee, or apple juice without pulp.

For adults

Adults may have the following prior to anaesthesia:

• Up to 6 hours prior – a light meal (eg toast and clear fluids)
• 2 hours prior – clear fluids (maximum 400 mL)

For children

Children over 6 months of age may have the following prior to anaesthesia:

• Up to 6 hours prior – limited solids / formula / cow’s milk
• 4 hours prior – breast milk
• 1 hour prior – clear fluids (maximum 3 mL/kg)

Infants under 6 months of age may have the following prior to anaesthesia:

• Up to 4 hours prior – formula
• 3 hours prior – breast milk
• 1 hour prior – clear fluids (maximum 3 mL/kg)

MEDICATIONS AND FASTING

You will generally receive specific instructions about which of your usual medications you should continue taking on the morning of your surgery, and you should still take these with a sip of water (even while you are otherwise fasting).

Diabetics will also receive specific instructions regarding their medications.

If you have any questions, please contact the Pre-admission Clinic (02 9463 1413 during business hours). 

If you are not appropriately fasted, your surgery will be delayed or cancelled.