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

The whole idea that it is terribly unsafe to be sedated without having fasted for 8 hours is way overblown.

The theoretical concern is that the unconscious patient will vomit or passively regurgitate and aspirate their stomach contents. While this is possible, it is not a common scenario. Good airway management technique prevents complications.

In a true emergency, ER physicians/surgeons/anesthesiologists proceed because they have to.