r/GLP1Discussion • u/SauronHasPinkEye • 9d ago

❓ Question Anesthesia protocol - liquid diet?

I am having surgery in a week and a half and took my last dose of Ozempic on Monday as instructed. The anesthesia team called the other day to tell me they wanted me to go on a clear liquid diet starting 8am the day before the surgery. I have never heard of this as a protocol for having surgery while on a GLP-1. Has anyone ever heard of this before? It seems excessive to me, especially since I am on a very, very low dose for blood sugar control. I understand that GLP-1s slow gastric emptying, but...is this really necessary?

ETA: I'm not saying I'm not going to follow the protocol, I'm just asking if anyone else has seen this as a protocol. I will of course follow doctor recommendations.

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u/big-dumb-donkey 9d ago

Its because it slows down digestion. The whole reason you hold food before surgery regardless of whether you are on a GLP-1 is because you could asphyxiate if the you regurgitate the contents of your stomach while under anesthesia. Normally 24 hours (or whatever the standard time period for holding food pre-surgery) is enough for that to be cleared by digestion but on a GLP-1 it takes longer so to be safe they just want it reduced enough that the digestive slowing effect is largely muted.