NPO after Midnight: What do the Guidelines Say?

Is your shop still using strict NPO after midnight for its surgical patients? It’s time to talk to the powers that be to have this changed, supported by evidence, of course.

The controversy of “Strict NPO After Midnight” has been ongoing for many years now as the data has suggested it’s silly but still performed. Well, the American Society of Anesthesiologists put together a task force in 2017 to put an end to the silliness. Let’s try to make the horrible experience of being hospitalized a little less horrible for our patients. A 🎩 tip to the authors. Happy Sunday!

It takes leadership to make these types of changes at an institution. CLICK HERE for a review on physician leadership in today’s times.

Citation looking at NPO After Midnight:

Practice Guidelines for Preoperative Fasting and the Use of Pharmacologic Agents to Reduce the Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration: Application to Healthy Patients Undergoing Elective Procedures: An Updated Report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preoperative Fasting and the Use of Pharmacologic Agents to Reduce the Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration. Anesthesiology. 2017 Mar;126(3):376-393. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000001452. PMID: 28045707.
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Is your shop still using strict NPO after midnight for its surgical patients? It’s time to talk to the powers that be to have this changed, supported by evidence, of course. The controversy of “Strict NPO After Midnight” has been ongoing for many years now as the data has suggested it’s silly but still performed. Well, the American Society of Anesthesiologists put together a task force in 2017 to put an end to the silliness. Let’s try to make the horrible experience of being hospitalized a little less horrible for our patients. #endthenpo Thanks for everyone who is joining in with me today in spreading this message. @doctorwarsgame just posted as well. I will add the names of others who join in on the fun as the day moves along. You can get this entire full free guideline on my website, eddyjoemd.com A 🎩 tip to the authors. Happy Sunday! Spread the words to your friends! Tag them or share this post on your story! ☺️

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