It is generally safe for adults to drink water or other clear fluids up to 2 hours before surgery, according to updated pre-operative fasting guidelines. Recent research and guidelines, including from the European Society of Anaesthesiology, now allow adults to sip clear fluids such as water until fairly close to the time of elective surgery to maintain hydration and improve comfort and recovery. However, specific instructions can vary depending on the procedure and individual medical conditions, and patients should always follow their healthcare provider's directions precisely. Key points:
- Adults can sip small amounts of clear fluids like water up to 2 hours before surgery.
- Drinking water helps reduce dehydration, nausea, and other side effects.
- For some surgeries, like gastrointestinal or emergency surgeries, stricter fasting may be required.
- Clear fluids include water, clear tea (no milk), black coffee, and some clear juices without pulp.
- Avoid milk, dairy, and other non-clear liquids close to surgery.
- Drinking beyond the allowed cutoff may delay or cancel surgery for safety reasons.
Thus, drinking water before surgery is allowed and even encouraged within the guidelines given to the patient, but only up to the specified time given by the surgical team.
