What is being sober?
Being sober is not used in a medical context as the opposite of being drunk. It does mean that your stomach contains no food or drink before and during the procedure or examination. During an operation or examination under anaesthesia, you need to be sober so that no stomach contents enter your lungs at the start of anaesthesia (or sedation). After all, you cannot swallow during anaesthesia.
Why is being sober important?
General anaesthesia affects the stomach. Some functions of the stomach, such as contraction, emptying and production of secretions, are temporarily stopped during the procedure or examination. Stomach contents and gastric juices can pass from the stomach and oesophagus into your trachea and lungs if you are not sober. This is dangerous and can lead to pneumonia, a serious complication. So for your own safety, follow the instructions given to you by the doctor.
Not being sober during an operation can have serious consequences for your health. Therefore, the procedure will be postponed or cancelled if you are not sober.
Until when can you eat and drink?
You may not eat or drink from a set time before the procedure or examination. How long in advance depends on the type of food and drink (the stomach digests some substances more slowly than others), the quantity, the procedure and the type of anaesthetic.
| Up to 8 hours before the operation | Do not eat fried food or fatty meat. |
| Up to 6 hours before the procedure | For certain operations or procedures, your attending physician may allow you to eat a light meal consisting of toast and clear liquids. Sometimes you may also be allowed to drink milk (excluding breast milk). We equate milk with solid food. |
| Up to 4 hours before the procedure (for children) | With the agreement of the attending physician: breast milk is allowed. |
| Up to 2 hours before the operation | You may drink clear drinks such as water, coffee and tea without milk, carbonated drinks (e.g. cola and Lipton Ice Tea®), apple juice, Oasis® and sports drinks (Aquarius®, AA Drink®, Isostar®, Extran® herbal drink). These drinks leave the stomach within two hours. You should not drink other fruit juices, e.g. orange juice. |
Taking medication
Follow the instructions you received from the anaesthetist. Swallow the medication you need to take on the day of surgery with half a glass of water.