Consideration for NBM:
- Pre or post surgery
- When the bowel is non-functional e.g. gastric outlet
obstruction
- The patient is unable to swallow safely e.g. after a stroke,
head injury, myasthenia gravis or reduced level of consciousness.
- Nausea or vomiting may also inhibit the intake of fluids,
nutrition and oral medicines
Why NBM?
Patients are at risk of aspirating their stomach contents
during general anaesthesia. Therefore minimum fasting periods for scheduled
surgery are:
- 6 Hours for solid food, infant formula or milk
- 4 Hours for breast milk
- 2 Hours for water, dilute squash or tea/coffee with a small
amount of milk
- As water leaves the stomach within 2 hours of ingestion,
medicines can be given up to two hours before surgery with water.
Oral medications
To continue or omit prior to surgery? It may be appropriate to give the oral medicine. Consider:
- Medicines that should be continued throughout the
peri-operative period to prevent relapse of the treated condition or to avoid the
effects of drug withdrawal.
- Medicines that should be withheld before surgery to reduce
the risks that they may impose upon the procedure.
Medications to CONTINUE
Medications
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Exception
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All cardiac or BP drugs
(eg anti-anginal, anti-arrhythmia)
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Except ACE inhibitors, ARB and diuretics (refer below)
Amiodarone can be safely omitted for a few days as it has a very long
half-life.
Alpha blocker to continue if indicated for BP control. If for urinary retention and patient is catheterized, may be withheld if patient at risk of hypotension.
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All epilepsy or Parkinsons drug
|
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All asthma drugs/inhalers
|
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All tablets which reduce gastric pH eg ranitidine, omeprazole,
pantoprazole
|
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All thyroid drugs
|
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All major and minor tranquilisers eg benzodiazepines, antidepressants
and nicotine patches
|
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All steroids including inhalers
|
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All immunosuppressants and cancer drugs
|
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All analgesics (eg opiods)
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Except NSAIDS
|
Medications to OMIT
Lithium
|
Omit due to risk of toxicity
|
NSAIDS
|
Omit unless prescribe as premed
EXCEPTION: Cox-2 selective inhibitor (to continue)
Non selective NSAIDs
Possible increased risk of bleeding. If the risks of postoperative
bleeding are high or where the consequences of even minor bleeding are
significant e.g. retinal, stop NSAIDs 3 days before surgery to allow platelet
function to recover.
|
Clozapine
|
Stopped 24 hours before surgery.
|
Glucosamine
|
Glucosamine may affect blood glucose control.
Glucosamine and chondroitin may have an anticoagulant effect and
should therefore be discontinued two weeks prior to surgery.
|
Aspirin, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, warfarin
|
Omit except for patients with coronary artery stent upon discussion
with GP
Should be stopped when risk of preoperative bleeding are high or
where consequences of even minor bleeding are significant, balanced against
risk of precipitating thromboembolic complications if these are stopped. To stopped
generally 7 days before surgery to allow recovery of adequate platelet
function
Warfarin ideally stop 5 days
before surgery to allow INR to drop below 1.5. Epidural analgesia will
require INR ≤1.5
|
MIXED review:
Medications
|
Consideration
|
ACE inhibitors/ ARB
|
May drop blood pressure during anaesthetic.
To withhold unless
requested(1)
ACE I
To continue therapy and inform the anaesthetist who may request the
preop dose to be omitted(2)
ARB
For hypertensive patient’s likely to have an epidural anaesthetic,
withhold on the morning of surgery. For congestive heart failure and/or
history of myocardial infarction patients, continue therapy and inform the
anaesthetist(2)
|
All diuretics
|
Depends on clinical judgement(1)
Thiazide and loop diuretics need not be omitted. Any electrolyte
imbalance should be corrected before surgery.
Withhold if patient dehydrated but seek advice if patient has cardiac
failure.
Omit potassium-sparing diuretics on the morning of surgery as reduced
kidney perfusion in the immediate post-operative period may predispose to
hyperkalaemia.
|
Others
|
Drugs not essential in short term eg vitamins, iron, laxatives, osteoporosis treatment, liquid antacids, HRT, herbal can be omitted(1)
Counteract arguments(2):
COC should be discontinued 4-6 weeks before major elective surgery
and all surgery to the legs to reduce the risk of thromboembolism.
Alternative contraception e.g. progestogen only pill.
Iron supplementations, continue unless bowel surgery then discontinue
7 days pre-operatively.
Vitamins and mineral supplements can be continued.
Herbal should be discontinued
HRT Preferably discontinue 4 weeks prior to major surgery or where there
is a high risk of a thromboembolic event. If not, HRT may be continued
peri-operatively but thromboprophylaxis is recommended.
|
Kindly refer to link (2) for further information.
References:
1.http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/subtideal/Doctors/SaferPrescribingWorkbook/Section4Appendix2-Peri-operativedrugs.pdf
2 http://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/EasysiteWeb/getresource.axd?AssetID=11296