calories and intake while waiting for surgery

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what is reasonable for intake/calories while a person is NPO waiting for surgery?

The person has intravenous of Lactated Ringers' - but this has no calories. The person has been waiting for surgery since Feb 12 (but because of coming in through emergency and not an elective surgery - therefore not scheduled - has to wait to be fitted in)

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what is reasonable for intake/calories while a person is NPO waiting for surgery?

The person has intravenous of Lactated Ringers' - but this has no calories. The person has been waiting for surgery since Feb 12 (but because of coming in through emergency and not an elective surgery - therefore not scheduled - has to wait to be fitted in)

I don't know the answer to your question, but it sounds like it's time for a dietary consult. I think that malnutrition is shamefully common in hospitals, and it impairs healing and recovery. I hope the situation has resolved by now!

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

The pt should be on TPN if it is anticipated the NPO status will continue for a while post op, from what I've seen,(with OUR service) usually a week is pretty much the cut off point, our doc's are pretty good, even if they only get TPN for a few days before resuming to eat they are getting that jump start

Now, if they CAN eat, they should be fed and then NPO before their case, they shouldn't be left as an add on for days and days,that's just crazy,they're either in the hospital and are an urgent case, or send them home and schedule it as an outpt, I'm curious as to the dx

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Specializes in ICU, nutrition.

Diet should be resumed if they are waiting for surgery (unless they have some reason like bowel obstruction, mesenteric ischemia, etc, that makes them unable to eat). If the patient is otherwise healthy, NPO for a week to two weeks is acceptable, but if they are malnourished, TPN may be an option. It's a high risk med, you don't want to use it unless absolutely necessary.

Can the patient really not eat, or did someone forget to resume diet?

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in this situation, the patient has had a fracture, and now is bedridden, therefore cannot be sent home. There is no problem to eat, it is just the NPO because of waiting for surgery. Fortunately, someone provided some food late last night (after waiting all day again) - but nothing all day today again (because waiting and hoping for surgery).

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Why is there such a delay getting the surgery done?! He's lucky to have a good nurse looking out for him. I bet he's hungry on top of being hurt. Is he complaining?! Any chance someone will operate before Monday?!

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Why is there such a delay getting the surgery done?! He's lucky to have a good nurse looking out for him. I bet he's hungry on top of being hurt. Is he complaining?! Any chance someone will operate before Monday?!

The delay was because it's not elective surgery (it was an accidental injury); so the first surgeon came to explain that the life-threatening surgeries have to be done first. And this gentleman has not complained - just patiently waiting, with pain, and various other realistic concerns (awareness that muslces are atrophying).

The good news is that he went to the OR half an hour ago.

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