Why can't you eat or drink for at least 6hrs before an operation under gener!
Question: Why can't you eat or drink for at least 6hrs before an operation under general anesthetic !?!?
Answers:
When you go under a general anesthetic you loose your gage reflex!.
Plus many people tend to get nauseated with anesthesia!.
All of this together sets you up for a problem called aspiration!.
This is where you get nauseated and throw up!. But without the gage reflex, you end up inhaling the emesis (vomit)!. When the emesis get into you lungs it brings with it bacteria and you can end up with a very serious, life threatening lung infection called bacterial pneumonia!.
The risk of all of this is greatly minimized if you simply do not anything in you tummy to throw up!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Plus many people tend to get nauseated with anesthesia!.
All of this together sets you up for a problem called aspiration!.
This is where you get nauseated and throw up!. But without the gage reflex, you end up inhaling the emesis (vomit)!. When the emesis get into you lungs it brings with it bacteria and you can end up with a very serious, life threatening lung infection called bacterial pneumonia!.
The risk of all of this is greatly minimized if you simply do not anything in you tummy to throw up!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It's to decrease the risk of aspiration !. A person may suffocate or drown (depending on what type of matter has enter the respiratory system eg!. lungs, trachea aka windpipe) to death particularly during CPR!. Because a person is unconcious under a general anethetic, their coughing and gagging reflex do not work!. Fasting ensures food and drink do not leave the stomach and enter the respiratory system!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
if there is any food or liquid in your system, if you have a allergic reaction you can vomit, and if there is a tube down your throat, you can choke, its all discusting and really 12 hrs isn't alot of time to not eat or drink, its just the fact that you CANT and it annoys the hell out of me!. lol!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Because when you are lying flat on the OR table, stomach contents can reflux and end up in your lungs (aspiration)!. There is less of a risk of this if you have not eaten before surgery!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
the anasthesia makes you feel sick so it reduces the risk of puking while your unconciousWww@Answer-Health@Com