How do trauma surgeons deal with the fact that the patients they operate on probably haven’t fasted the night before given that trauma patients don’t know in advance they’ll be having surgery?

Question

I know that with elective surgeries, patients have to fast the night before to prevent vomiting when they go under anesthetic, but I was wondering how this concern is navigated in trauma or emergency surgeries in which patients definitely didn’t fast the night before? Do they just try to deal with the vomit or is there a special procedure to prevent vomiting from occurring?

In: 1727

Answer 1

They don’t. Anesthesiologists do.

The drugs given and methods for intubation are chosen based on an entire clinical picture, taking into account all the conditions a patient may have in order to minimize risk to the patient. If we can wait, we wait. If we can’t, we adjust accordingly.

source: Level 1 trauma anesthesiologist