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?
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People are giving far more details in the comments so I’ll just offer what I can.
My dad was the only general surgeon in the county in all three towns’ we’ve lived in. Naturally he was on call for the ER all the time. We’d be having dinner, his phone rings, well.. He’s gotta go. Y’know? I don’t see him for a good chunk of my early childhood but the other option is quite a few dead people.
When I was an idiot kid ( and not* the idiot adult I am today ) I asked him how he dealt with the dead and dying.
As usual he got real quiet, did that ‘thinkin’ look some dads have. Then said something along the lines of ‘I just deal with it. One step at a time.’
He’s been covered in all manner of bodily fluids. A time or two >! infections on patients would balloon up and would need surgical intervention to prevent injury or a big biohazard issue in a patients room. I only heard two stories about it but he’s been basically ‘shotgunned’ by pus a few times. !<. He also told me about >! a few times a surgeon nicked an artery and they’d pull him (my dad) in to help close it off. It’s how I learned how quick people can die, even in a highly professional surgical setting. !<.
I know that had nothing to do with the question but I hope it was a fun read
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