Eating and drinking regimen before and after anesthesia

Before a planned surgical procedure, the patient should not eat solid food for at least 6 hours before induction of anesthesia. However, they may drink clear liquids (water or unsweetened tea) during this period up to 2 hours before induction of anesthesia. It is also necessary to stop chewing gum or smoking at least 2 hours before induction of anesthesia.

More information

Adult patients can drink up to 150 ml of medicated water up to 1 hour before induction of anesthesia. Children can also drink water in sips or unsweetened tea up to 2 hours before anesthesia, but should not eat solid food for at least 6 hours before induction of anesthesia.



If a patient has food or liquid in their stomach before anesthesia begins, they may vomit during the induction of anesthesia. Because anesthesia inhibits normal reflexes that prevent vomited food from entering the trachea and lungs, stomach contents can enter the lungs, causing pneumonia or even more serious complications. In emergency surgeries, the anesthesiologist uses a special technique to induce anesthesia to prevent stomach contents from being inhaled into the lungs.
The above-mentioned feeding and drinking regimen applies to both planned general anesthesia and regional anesthesia. Some patients occasionally feel sick and even lose consciousness when regional anesthesia is administered. The operation may also be prolonged and the patient may feel pain or discomfort during regional anesthesia. It also happens that the anesthesiologist's blockade is technically unsuccessful. In these cases, the patient needs to be put to sleep, so the same guidelines regarding feeding and drinking also apply to planned regional anesthesia. When the patient has fully awakened from anesthesia and can swallow normally and is not sick, he or she can start drinking clear liquids (water, tea) in sips at intervals.
If nausea or vomiting occurs, the patient should stop drinking and try again in 30 to 60 minutes. If the patient is not sick, he or she can soon start eating easily digestible food. The exception is patients after oral surgery (for example, after surgery on the esophagus and tonsils), where we follow the instructions of the surgeon.

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Our patients' opinions testify to the trust, professionalism, and personal approach that we implement in our work every day.
MD Medicina has friendly and, above all, professional staff. The anesthesiologists make sure you feel really safe. The surgeon gives you all the information and does his job professionally, taking care of you until you leave and of course afterwards. The nurses, physiotherapist and others make sure you don't miss anything, even if you really can't do anything at that time. Professionalism, friendliness, homeliness. This is probably all that we as patients want and deserve when we need surgery. And that's how I felt too, because everything, from the preparation for the procedure, the surgery and the postoperative care, was carried out superbly. Thank you to the entire team and all the best!
Katarina Sinkovec
Thank you to all of you who use the latest medical devices, methods and forms of work in your medical work. At the same time, you are training a new generation of doctors because you are personally convinced that a collaborative approach with the patient is not only beneficial for you, but also for us. This makes us feel "important".
Alenka Čurin Janžekovič & Marijan Janžekovič
When you enter the MD medicine building, you feel more comfortable than not, because you don't immediately have that familiar and unpleasant feeling and smell of a hospital. You are greeted by a friendly nurse who greets you kindly and explains everything you are interested in. Everything has a relaxing effect, so that that last feeling of anxiety before a doctor's examination or surgery really goes away. The doctor you visit is a top expert who devotes himself entirely to you, really listens to you, has time for you and, in the end, gives you professional advice. I always leave the premises of MD medicine calm and with a clear picture that there are people here who will always take care of you. Therefore, a sincere thank you to all of you.
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I have had a personal doctor at MD medicine since 2017. From the very first visit, I entered the above-standard world of the health concession: a polite reception at the clearly arranged main entrance, a bright waiting room without crowds, an examination time at the agreed time in a modern and pleasantly equipped clinic, a friendly nurse who knows me by name, a relaxed and highly professional doctor who has time both to listen and to treat me. In the same building, I can also have a laboratory and many other health services performed. I can arrange orders, referrals, prescriptions, advice via email or by phone, which someone always answers... The high-quality system of MD medicine works not only for the benefit of the patient's health, but also dignity.
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