You must be thinking:otherwise my stomach will turn and everything will come straight up when I wake up again. Could be, but there is another – vital – reason not to eat before surgery.
To be clear, fasting before a procedure is usually linked to getting a general anesthetic. When removing a splinter from your thumb or even keyhole surgery on your knee, you usually remain conscious. And if staying sober is usually not necessary, local anesthesia is the chosen method.
It is generally maintained that you can only eat a light meal up to 6 hours before the admission. And up to 2 hours before you can only drink clear drinks. After these times you are not allowed to eat or drink anything. This may differ slightly per procedure or hospital, you will receive clear information about this in advance.
Also read:'This is what your intestines do for you'
That empty stomach when you go under sail has everything to do with preventing (serious) pneumonia. If you do eat, stomach acid is produced. And that stomach acid can end up in your lungs under anesthesia. Of course that shouldn't happen.
