These recommendations come from the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Remember to have a driver that can bring you home after the procedure. Failure to do these things may result in your procedure being rescheduled.
Ingested Material
Clear Liquids*: 2 hour minimum fasting period
Breast Milk: 4 hour minimum fasting period
Infant Formula: 6 hour minimum fasting period
Nonhuman Milk**: 6 hour minimum fasting period
Light Meal***: 6 hour minimum fasting period
Fried food, fatty food. or meat: Additional fasting time needed (8 hours or more may be needed)
Gastrointestinal Stimulants
Metoclopramide: May be used/no routine use
Gastric Acid Secretion Blockers
Cimetidine: May be used/no routine use
Famotidine: May be used/no routine use
Ranitidine: May be used/no routine use
Omeprazole: May be used/no routine use
Lansoprazole: May be used/no routine use
Antacids
Sodium Citrate: May be used/no routine use
Sodium Bicarbonate: May be used/no routine use
Magnesium Trisilicate: May be used/no routine use
Antiemetics Ondansetran: May be used/no routine use
Anticholinergics
Atropine: No use
Scopolamine: No use
Glycopyrrolate: No use
Combinations of the medicines above: No routine use
These recommendations apply to healthy patients who are undergoing elective procedures. They are not intended for women in labor. Following the guidelines does not guarantee complete gastric emptying.
The fasting periods noted above apply to all ages.
* Examples of clear liquids include water, fruit juices without pulp, carbonated beverages, clear tea, and black coffee.
** Because nonhuman milk is similar to solids in gastric emptying time, the amount ingested must be considered when determining an appropriate fasting period.
*** A light meal typically consists of toast and clear liquids. Meals that include fatty or fried food or meat may prolong gastric emptying time. Additional fasting time (e.g. 8 hours or more) may be needed in these cases. Both the amount and types of foods ingested must be considered when determining an appropriate fasting period.
Colorado Pain Care treats each patient with the same care we would want for our own family. Founded on the promise of H.O.P.E., we provide honest, objective, personalized, and empathetic care from the area’s top physicians and providers.
