Food and Drink Preparation
The following are eating and drinking rules for you or your child’s procedure. Please read the day before the procedure.
Food and drink taken before anesthesia can cause problems such as choking or vomiting. There are a few rules about eating and drinking that can prevent these problems.
If you have diabetes, gastric reflux, hiatal hernia, any disease of your stomach or if you are pregnant, the following may not apply (see below).
Adult Food Preparation
| Type of Food | Examples | Latest Time You Can Eat or Drink |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Liquids | Liquids you can see through: water, apple juice, other clear juices without pulp, plain jello, tea, black coffee NO MILK | Two (2) hours before you are told to arrive at hospital* *Last drink may not be more than one (1) regular cup (8 oz) |
| ALL other foods and liquids | All solids, all candy, all meat containing products, all fried foods, all cheeses, ice cream | Eight (8) hours before you are told to arrive at hospital |
Pediatric Food Preparation
| Type of Food | Examples | Latest Time You Can Eat or Drink |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Liquids | Liquids you can see through such as water, apple juice, Pedialyte, or other clear juices (no pulp), plain jello | Two (2) hours before you are told to arrive at hospital* *Last drink may not be more than one (1) regular cup (8 oz) |
| Breast Milk | Four (4) hours before you are told to arrive at hospital | |
| Infant Milk | For infants under one year of age | Six (6) hours before you are told to arrive at hospital |
| ALL other foods and liquids | All solids, all candy, all meat containing products, all fried foods, all cheeses, ice cream | Eight (8) hours before you are told to arrive at hospital (or after midnight before first case starts) for solids and milk |
| Medications | Routing medications may be given at the usual time with a sip of water, EXCEPT FOR white liquid antacids and stool softeners, and some heart and blood pressure medications, please contact your doctor before the procedure. | Eight (8) hours before you are told to arrive to the hospital for Maalox, Mylanta, Miralax, Carafate, Senna, ACE inhibitors (e.g., captopril, lisinopril, enalapril), or ARBs (losartan, valsartan, irbesartan) |
If you have any questions, call the Nurse Coordinator office at 410-955-8353 from Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Please take your usual medicines with a sip of water on the day of procedure unless instructed not to do so.
* If you have diabetes, gastric reflux, hiatal hernia, any disease of your stomach or if you are pregnant, do not eat or drink any liquids for eight (8) hours, before you are told to arrive at the hospital.