PATIENT INFORMATION
Why do I have to fast before anaesthesia?
Anaesthesia and deep sedation can reduce the reflexes that normally protect your airway. If food or liquid comes back up from the stomach while those reflexes are reduced, it can enter the lungs. This is called pulmonary aspiration and it can be serious.
Fasting instructions are designed to reduce that risk without making you go without food or drink for longer than necessary. The correct fasting time depends on what you consumed, your age, your health and the procedure. People with conditions that slow stomach emptying may need a different plan.