The reason for fasting before anesthesia: Is it because of the nausea it causes or why do they do this?

Question

The reason for fasting before anesthesia: Is it because of the nausea it causes or why do they do this?

Answer 1

You got it! Altho medicine has come a long way since that practice was first initialized...I still wouldn't have a big meal before surgery tho!

Answer 2

Because if there is any food in your stomache and you vomit during surgery, you can choke on it and die from suffocation.  Suck on ice cubes only.

Answer 3

It's done for the protection of the airway so that you don't aspirate and obstruct the airway or potentially cause aspiration pneumonia.

Answer 4

Also, in a sober individual the effect of the given dose of anesthetic is much better to predict

Answer 5

when they give you anaesthesia  your all respose of body reduces almost to nil, even your  reflexes like cough reflex , when something goes in your air way you start coughing while during anaesthesia  you you cant clear your air way  , whic cantcough which  may lead to  aspiration pneumonia , meaning your stomach content going into your lungs  a seriuos condition,  so they keep you nil by mouth  8 hours before surgery