2006-10-11 11:11:14 · 15 answers · asked by The Boss 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Because in a nutshell, the anaesthetic makes all of your muscles relax, and that includes your stomach muscles, or rather the band of muscle that resides at the top of your stomach that keeps your stomach contents in!
2006-10-11 11:22:44 · answer #1 · answered by tufty 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the drugs they use often make people feel naesous, so why risk throwing up all over the nurse/tech? Not only that, but complications can arise if the system has food in it when the operation begins.
So before major or minor surgery, don't eat or drink. Just think of what they give you to eat when you CAN eat again.
2006-10-11 22:39:47 · answer #2 · answered by Lizzie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being sick during an anaesthetic can be dangerous. It is much less likely if your stomach is empty. Anaesthetists paralyse you and your respiratory muscles during operation and so all your protective reflexes are gone at the time of operation. There is a chance of aspiration pneumonia because of stomach contents going in to your air pipe and lungs. Hence the usual practise of Nil By Mouth is followed to prevent such complications.
2006-10-11 11:28:44 · answer #3 · answered by Dev 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Choking on your own vomit is only part of the problem. Hospitals nowadays keep the airway open for direst application of anaesthesia so choking would be unlikely.
However - vomiting is a risk as if one vomits when grossly sedated it can cause a reflex action in which the heart stops beating.
2006-10-12 01:19:30 · answer #4 · answered by NORSE-MAN 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the anaesthetics can make u throw up and if u do this while u are still alseep u could choke and there is a chance that they may not be able to clear the vomit from ur throat on time to save u, graphic enough for u lol
2006-10-11 11:20:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because when your body digest food it is a long and hard process of breaking down all the small and big chemicals and proteins in whatever you ate . In the end you make a really high octane fuel and leave a really messy trail.
2006-10-11 16:54:52 · answer #6 · answered by Codi V 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
anaesthetics can cause vomiting and this could result in drowning or choking on your own vomit -- therefore to lower the risk: no eat no drink - remember even stomach contents are acidic and you could breathe them back into your lungs .. this would also have an adverse effect on your recovery
2006-10-11 11:14:28 · answer #7 · answered by The old man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The relaxants they give you relax all of your muscles... including your stomach muscles. This allows the contents of your stomach to come out during surgery. If can get very nasty if you vomit all over yourself during surgery... let alone the danger of choking on your own vomit.
2006-10-11 14:09:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they do not want you to choke on your own vomit in case you have a reaction to the anesthesia.
Also, certain foods react to meds.
2006-10-11 11:14:23 · answer #9 · answered by Oorah Wife 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they don't want you to vomit from the anaesthesia and then choke on it or get it in your lungs.
2006-10-11 11:19:01 · answer #10 · answered by sarcastro1976 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋