... I have had practice experience in both a surgical ward and in general theatre. I feel that having had experience in both of these settings I would be able to link theory to practice experience. Fasting patients from midnight before day of surgery has long been a time honoured tradition. The main reason for the Nil by Mouth rule from midnight has been to ensure an empty stomach at time of anaesthesia. If the patient is not fasted, gastric contents could be inhaled by the patient while they are under anaesthetic. Because the contents of the stomach are acidic it is important that regurgitation and inhalation does not occur as this can lead to an inflammatory response within the lungs which can have dire effects for the patient (Tudor, 2006). Although an empty stomach is vital for safe sedation, the time which the patient is fasted for is also of ...

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