II. Protocol: Food and Liquids
- Rule: 2, 4, 6, 8 rule applies to all ages
- Clear liquid definition
- No clear liquids within 2 hours of surgery
- Includes no water or apple juice
- No Breast Milk within 4 hours of surgery
- No solid foods within 6 hours of surgery
- Includes orange juice, soda, infant formula and milk
- No fried foods, fatty foods or meats within 8 hours of surgery
- These foods are associated with Delayed Gastric Emptying
- References
III. Protocol: Medications to still take on morning of surgery
- All Cardiovascular medications
- See Perioperative Beta Blocker
- Continued medications include
- Exceptions - cardiovascular medications to stop
- See Antihypertensives below (Diuretics, ACE Inhibitors, ARBs, Calcium Channel Blockers)
- Anti-reflux medications (e.g. Omeprazole, Ranitidine)
- Seizure and anti-parkinson medications
- Psychiatric medications
- Benzodiazepines
- Risk of withdrawal when abruptly stopped perioperatively
- May reduce Anesthetic need
- Antipsychotics
- Decreased Seizure threshold
- Risk of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
- Antidepressants
- May be continued (risk of Antidepressant Withdrawal symptoms)
- Benzodiazepines
-
Bronchodilators
- Bring asthma Inhalers to hospital on day of surgery
-
CPAP machine
- Bring to hospital on day of surgery
- Oral Contraceptives (unless stoped for prevention of DVT)
-
Corticosteroids or Immunosuppressants
- Consider Stress Dose Steroids if on equivalent of >5 mg/day in 6 months prior to surgery
- Rheumatologic agents
- Despite case reports of infection and delayed healing risks
- Levothyroxine (Synthroid)
- HIV Medications
-
Pain Medications
- Acetaminophen or Opiates
- Not Aspirin or NSAIDS
IV. Protocol: Medications to not take on morning of surgery
- Diuretics or Weight Loss Medications
- Potassium supplements or Vitamins
- Diabetes medications
- See Perioperative Diabetes Management
- Oral diabetes medications are typically held on the day of surgery (see below)
- Basal insulin (e.g. Lantus) is taken at half dose (on night before or AM of surgery)
- Bolus Insulin (e.g. Lispro) is held at home while NPO
V. Protocol: Medications to avoid in the perioperative period
- Medications associated with bleeding risk
- See Perioperative Anticoagulation
- NSAIDs
- Short-acting agents: Stop 1 day before surgery
- Mid-acting agents: Stop 3 days before surgery
- Long-acting agents: Stop 10 days before surgery
- COX2 Inhibitors (e.g. Celebrex)
- Stop at least 2 days before surgery (Nephrotoxicity Risk)
- Antiplatelet Agents: P2Y agents - Clopidogrel (Plavix), Brillanta (Ticagrelor), Effient (Prasugrel)
- See Perioperative Antiplatelet Therapy
- Do not stop antiplatelet agents without carefully reviewing indications and minimum duration from stenting
- See Antiplatelet Therapy for Vascular Disease
- Cardiology should be consulted before stopping P2Y agents in post-stenting patients
- Consider continuing Aspirin while holding the second antiplatelet agent
- Clopidogrel (Plavix), Brillanta (Ticagrelor)
- Stop at least 5 days before surgery if no contraindication to stopping
- Effient (Prasugrel)
- Stop at least 7 days before surgery if no contraindication to stopping
- Restart 24 hours after procedure or per surgeons discretion
- Aspirin
- Stop at least 5 days before surgery if no contraindication to stopping
- Consider continuing Aspirin
- Patients with high thrombosis risk (e.g. recent Myocardial Infarction)
- Minor procedures: Dental, dermatologic and Cataract surgery
- Consider stopping before Colonoscopy (especially if polypectomy is performed)
- Other antiplatelet agents
- Cilostazol (Pletal)
- Stop at least 3 days before surgery
- Ticlopidine (Ticlid)
- Stop at least 5 days before surgery
- Aspirin and Extended-Release Dipyridamole (Aggrenox)
- Stop at least 7 days before surgery
- Cilostazol (Pletal)
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
- Stop 5 days before surgery
- See Warfarin Protocol for the Perioperative Period (includes Bridging Indications)
- Restart 12 hours after procedure or per surgeons discretion
- Dabigatran (Pradaxa)
- Consider doubling days of cessation prior to surgeries with high risk of bleeding
- Creatinine Clearance >50 ml/min: Stop 2 days before surgery
- Creatinine Clearance <50 ml/min: Stop 5 days before surgery
- Restart 24 hours after surgery (72 hours after surgery if high bleeding risk)
- Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
- Stop at least 1-2 days before procedure (longer if Chronic Kidney Disease or very high risk of bleeding)
- Restart 24 hours after surgery (72 hours after surgery if high bleeding risk)
-
Thromboembolism risk
- Estrogen Replacement, Birth Control Pills
- Ideal to stop at least 1 month before surgery
- Weigh risk versus benefit
- If agent continued, consider DVT Prophylaxis measures
- SERMs (Tamoxifen, Raloxifene)
- Stop at least 1 week before procedures at high risk for Thromboembolism
- Tamoxifen should only be stopped on Consultation with patient's oncologist
- Estrogen Replacement, Birth Control Pills
-
Diabetes Mellitus
- See Perioperative Diabetes Management (includes Insulin management)
-
Oral Hypoglycemics
- Hold for NPO period as well as the AM of surgery
-
SGLT2 Inhibitors (e.g. Jardiance)
- Hold for 3 days prior to surgery (risk of Ketoacidosis)
- Resume when oral intake returns to normal
-
Metformin (Glucophage)
- Hold at least 24 hours prior to surgery (due to theoretical Lactic Acidosis risk)
-
Antihypertensives
- Diuretics
- Consider holding Calcium Channel Blockers while NPO
- ACE Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (hold one dose before surgery)
- Avoiding within 11 hours, reduces risk of immediate post-induction Hypotension
- Comfere (2005) Anesth Analg 100:636-44 [PubMed]
- Ophthamologic surgery: Cataract
- Notify surgeon of Flomax use in the perioperative period (due to risk of Floppy Iris Syndrome)
- Ophthalmologists can take preventive measures at surgery if they know of Flomax use
- As a long-acting medication, stopping the medication immediately before the procedure will not alter the risk
- Notify surgeon of Flomax use in the perioperative period (due to risk of Floppy Iris Syndrome)
-
Parkinsonism Agents
- MAO Inhibitors should be tapered off 2-3 weeks before the procedure
- Includes Selegiline and Rasagiline
- Risk of interaction with perioperative Meperidine, Dextromethorphan, Ephedrine, Opioids
- Avoid stopping Sinemet in perioperative procedure (risk of Parkinsonian hyperpyrexia syndrome)
- Stay moving in the post-operative period (within 2-3 days of procedure - incorporate PT/OT)
- MAO Inhibitors should be tapered off 2-3 weeks before the procedure
- Miscellaneous agents
- Alendronate (Fosamax)
- Stop at time of surgery due to instructions that are difficult to follow perioperatively (e.g. NPO)
- Alendronate (Fosamax)
-
DMARDs and Biologic Agents
- Stopping before orthopedic procedures (esp. TNF agents) lowers the risk of Surgical Site Infections
- Agents are stopped 1-2 weeks before procedure and resumed 2-4 weeks after surgery
- Consult with orthopedics and rheumatology regarding specific medications and patient risk factors
- den Broeder (2007) J Rheumatol 34(4):689-95 [PubMed]
- Herbal preparations
- Stop all Herbals and supplements at least one week before surgery
- Safest overall strategy due to numerous combination products
- Specific agents with known risk in the perioperative period
- Echinacea
- Ephedra (should be avoided in general)
- Garlic (discontinue at least 7 days before surgery)
- Gingko (discontinue at least 36 hours before surgery)
- Ginseng (discontinue at least 7 days before surgery)
- Kava (discontinue at least 24 hours before surgery)
- St. John's Wort (stop at least 5 days before surgery)
- Valerian (slowly taper off before surgery)
- Ang-Lee (2001) JAMA 286:208-16 [PubMed]
- Stop all Herbals and supplements at least one week before surgery
VI. References
- Danielson (2012) ICSI: Preoperative Evaluation
- (2012) Anesthesiology 116:522-38 [PubMed]