Today, one poor man was sent home because before he left the house he had a swig of orange juice: 3 hours before his surgery. Some might call him silly - but I wouldn't because on his letter (the same letter sent out to all surgical patients) states that you can drink "clear fruit juice" up to 2 hours before surgery. Now, myself, the nurses and even the surgical registrar all thought that orange juice without bits in would be fine, but the consultant anaesthetist said no. According to him "clear fruit juice" refers to squash - which is fine up to 2 hours before surgery along with water, pop, and black tea or black coffee - not actual physical juice.
This isn't the first time this has happened, although usually it's not so much of an issue, if a patient's scheduled for 9am surgery - and at 6:00 they drank some tea then we just put them at the end of the surgical list at 13:00 or later. But this poor gentleman was unfortunently last on the list - and because he came in an hour late for surgery there was zero lee-way for the surgical team. I was sad about that one - he was really nervous and having just got him changed for surgery he was just beginning to relax when he was sent home again.
So here is Nurse P's quick guide to when and what to eat for surgery!
(obviously - don't JUST listen to me, pay attention to your own surgical letter too!)
- Don't eat on the day of your surgery
- White tea and White coffee, fresh fruit juice, milk based drinks ect. can be drunk UP TO 6 HOURS BEFORE surgery.
- Black tea and Black coffee, squash or cordial or water ect, can be drunk UP TO 2 HOURS BEFORE surgery.
- If you need to take medication, or your surgery is delayed and you ask very nicely then the nurses can try and get you a sip of water if the anaesthetist gives the OK.
- If all else fails and you feel like your mouth is drier than the Sahara in August then ask just to swill some water around your mouth - we usually don't mind that!
