Why my Child needs to Keep Fast before Surgery?
If the surgery is going to be performed under general anaesthesia, fasting aims to reduce the volume and acidity of stomach contents, thus reducing the risk of regurgitation and aspiration. Sometimes, fasting is also required for children undergoing procedures under local anaesthesia or sedation because of the same safety reasons.
The minimal fasting period before surgery:
- TWO hours for clear fluids (pulp apple juices, jelly, carbonated beverages)
- FOUR hours for breast milk
- SIX hours for infant formula
- SIX hours of non-human milk
- SIX hours for a light meal (non-fatty meal e.g. toast & clear fluids)
Fatty meal, e.g. fried meat, may require many more hours for gastric emptying, and so it is not advised before surgery.