Why are patients scheduled for operation not allowed to eat?

Nurses General Nursing

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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?:confused::confused::confused: Thanks!

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?

I think the NPO after midnight order has just become the norm, I know that in most cases it is very hard to have a pt NPO when they have a 1600 appt time in the OR. However, I actually asked this question when I was in clinicals and the answer had to do with how often the surgery schedule is changed to accomodate changes in pt conditions, etc. Trying to manage the NPO status timing on several different pt's based on a changing OR schedule could become quite hectic.

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Specializes in CVICU.

In our facility, we do either midnight or 8 hours depending on the doctor. Some will allow a light breakfast if surgery isn't until afternoon.

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Specializes in Peds, PACU, ICU, ER, OB, MED-Surg,.

I worked in a PACU for several years, think that they still keep 0000 times for NPO because the surgery schedule does change very much throughout the day.

In a perfect world we would know exactly the time of OR and be able to give clears up to 2 hours before. In Peds we can give clears/breastmilk up to 2 hours prior and this does help, it's hard to explain to a 2mo old why they can't eat.

I think they would cancel an ortho case with a patient having frequent stools for fear of contamination of surgical site.

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As a few others have stated, when I worked in surgery we kept all pts NPO after midnight in case of schedule changes. If the 8am case had to be cancelled for whatever reason, the 12pm case was taken early.

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Specializes in OR Hearts 10.

You didn't say ORIF of what, but trying to keep a leg/hip sterile with a bunch of stool in the way is kinda hard. NPO, you already got the answers for that one.

Good luck...

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It's 11 years, old, but a good reference....

http://www.asahq.org/publicationsAndServices/NPO.pdf

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

The original question has been answered, and despite staff request to stay on topic I have had to removed several off topic posts. Therefore I'm closing this thread.

OP I hope you got the information you wanted, it's important to question and to continue to learn throughout your journey as a nurse so keep asking.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
The original question has been answered, and despite staff request to stay on topic I have had to removed several off topic posts. Therefore I'm closing this thread.

OP I hope you got the information you wanted, it's important to question and to continue to learn throughout your journey as a nurse so keep asking.

I might add that I do hope the OP will return and continue to ask questions. Not everyone here is as mean, rude, and disrespectful as some of the ones who responded. Personally, I'm disappointed in and embarrassed for several here.:o

Good luck in your nursing program!!! Continue to ask and we will continue to help you!

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