The nurse is providing teaching about preoperative plans for surgery and tells the patient they must not eat or drink anything for eight hours before the procedure. The patient asks why this is required. What is the nurse's most appropriate response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most appropriate response in this situation is for the nurse to say, "If you eat before surgery, you run the risk of food coming up from your stomach and being aspirated into your lungs." The major reason why patients go without food before surgery is to reduce the risk of aspiration. Inhaling food or fluids into the lungs can cause inflammation, respiratory problems and infection, which can further complicate the surgical process.

The Nurse Is Providing Teaching About Preoperative Plans for Surgery