Why are patients scheduled for operation not allowed to eat?

Is it because to avoid defecation during operation? Because this morning, an ORIF operation was postponed because the patient kept on defecating. What are other reasons behind this? Thanks!
I could be wrong, but I think it reduces the chances of vomiting, and ultimately aspirating or choking, as many anesthetics can cause this.

Thats true Ginger80, thats what I was told when i did a couple days in theatres. Not too sure about the bowels because they could use special soppository to clear the bowels, like they do for some surgeres. lata

Quote from Ginger80I could be wrong, but I think it reduces the chances of vomiting, and ultimately aspirating or choking, as many anesthetics can cause this.

They probably cancel to query if the patient have an infection which is causing increase bowel movement, and would wait and traet it before they go ahead with the op unless its an emergency.

To prevent aspiration and protect the airway. If you are sick enough to require surgery the last thing you want is your last meal in your lungs.

Yes, the 'no eating/drinking' rule (aka NPO) has to do with the possibility of vomiting and aspiration.If the patient is having frequent stools, the docs might want to investigate the possibility of infection. Not to mention how bad it might be for the patient to need frequent turning to be cleaned up and the danger of wound infection.Ms.pebbles - if you are a nurse, I am saddened by this thread. If you are not a nurse, you may want to become one!

Quote from mamamerleeYes, the 'no eating/drinking' rule (aka NPO) has to do with the possibility of vomiting and aspiration.If the patient is having frequent stools, the docs might want to investigate the possibility of infection. Not to mention how bad it might be for the patient to need frequent turning to be cleaned up and the danger of wound infection.Ms.pebbles - if you are a nurse, I am saddened by this thread. If you are not a nurse, you may want to become one!

Take a look under Mendleson's syndrome or aspiration pneumonitis for more information, but in general you want a patients stomach to have less than 25mls/Adult and a gastric acid pH 2.5 or greater. Pneumonia, Aspiration: eMedicine Pulmonology

It kind of saddens me that nurses or future nurses have to defend themselves when asking a question. Yes... a nurse should know some of the answers to that question about loose stools and surgery. BUT this site should be support for questions in a positive manner without making anyone feel bad.I have read so many threads on nurses eating their young, not supporting each other etc... Saying "If you are a nurse, this thread saddens me"... to a new grad or someone who just thought there might be other reasons unknown to her may make that nurse uncomfortable to ask questions in the future. I'm glad it was a future nurse who asked this so they weren't ridiculed for it.Let's all help each other out, not make them feel bad for asking.

Could not agree more. We need to be more supportive of each other, the job itself is difficult enough. Not a day goes by that I don't question something or learn something new.

Quote from JulieSandlinIt kind of saddens me that nurses or future nurses have to defend themselves when asking a question. Yes... a nurse should know some of the answers to that question about loose stools and surgery. BUT this site should be support for questions in a positive manner without making anyone feel bad.I have read so many threads on nurses eating their young, not supporting each other etc... Saying "If you are a nurse, this thread saddens me"... to a new grad or someone who just thought there might be other reasons unknown to her may make that nurse uncomfortable to ask questions in the future. I'm glad it was a future nurse who asked this so they weren't ridiculed for it.Let's all help each other out, not make them feel bad for asking.

As long as we are on the subject of NPO for surgery, I have a question that has bugged me for years. Why is the time the patient starts NPO always start at midnight? If the surgery is scheuled for 0600. we put them NPO at midnight. If the surgery is scheduled for 1600, we put them NPO at midnight. So why is it okay for the 0600 surgery to be NPO for only 6 hours while the 1600 surgery has to go for 16 hours with no food or water? This seems to hold no matter what the surgery is or whether it is in-patient or out-patient. It seems like we are punishing the patient because of the surgery schedule. Any thoughts?