Often, patients and their families are at a loss as to why an operation is necessary on an empty stomach. Many wonder if a little water or tea will make a difference.

If you or someone you love has ever had an operation, you may have noticed that doctors and hospital staff often refuse to allow food or drink for several hours before the operation. Often, patients and their families are at a loss to understand the meaning of an operation on an empty stomach. Many wonder if a little water or tea will make a difference. Some even force-feed the patient.

However, eating and drinking before an operation can be very dangerous. It can even endanger the patient's life. Therefore, doctors repeatedly emphasize that you should abstain from eating anything for at least 6 to 8 hours before surgery. So, let's find out why doctors prohibit eating or drinking anything before an operation and what the consequences are.

Why do they forbid eating or drinking anything before the operation?

When undergoing surgery, patients are usually given general anesthesia, a medication that renders them completely unconscious. During this process, some normal bodily functions, such as swallowing, coughing, or suppressing vomiting, are temporarily blocked. If food or liquid is present in the stomach, it may be vomited up during anesthesia and enter the airways. This can cause food or liquid to reach the lungs, a condition called aspiration.

Aspiration can cause very serious conditions, such as lung infection, difficulty breathing, and even life-threatening conditions. This is called aspiration pneumonitis. Therefore, it is very important to completely empty the stomach before surgery to avoid this risk.

Disadvantages of eating and drinking before the operation

1. Vomiting or nausea – Vomiting is a common complication after surgery. Keeping your stomach empty reduces the risk of vomiting or nausea.

2. Risk of aspiration – If there is food in the stomach and it goes into the lungs, it can prove fatal.

3. Problems during surgery – Especially in stomach or intestine surgery, if the patient has eaten something, the stomach cannot be cleaned properly, due to which the surgery may be postponed or may become difficult.