Please stick to the rules!
If you fail to do so, we will not be able to go ahead with your operation.
When you eat or drink, your body produces gastric acid. This gastric acid may end up in your lungs when you are under an anaesthetic, and that may cause severe pneumonia. To prevent this from happening, we ask that you remain 'nil by mouth' before your operation. This means that you are not allowed to eat or drink anything from a certain time onward.
For some operations or examinations, you must be 'nil by mouth.'
This means that you are not allowed to eat or drink anything from a certain time onward. But why does this matter?
The purpose of 'nil by mouth' is to make sure that your stomach is empty.
If you do have a full stomach during your operation, the content of your stomach may leak into your oesophagus.
From there, it may end up in your airways and lungs. And that poses great danger, as it may lead to severe pneumonia or breathing difficulties.
That's why it is important to fast before you come in. Please follow the instructions carefully.
How to remain 'nil by mouth'
Up to six hours before your admission time, you may eat only a light meal. Options include:
- Two rusks or crackers with jam but no butter, or one slice of bread with jam, but no butter.
Up to two hours before your admission time, you may drink only clear liquids:
- this includes coffee (without milk, but you can add sugar), tea, water, clear apple juice or still lemonade.
Important
Do not drink any dairy products or broth.
On the sample schedule below, your admission time (the time by which you need to arrive at the hospital) is shown on the left. The next column along shows the time at which you need to stop eating. The final column shows the time at which you need to stop drinking.
Admission time
(the time by which you need to arrive at the hospital) |
You must stop eating at: |
You must stop drinking at: |
| 08.00 am |
02.00 am |
06.00 am |
| 09.00 am |
03.00 am |
07.00 am |
| 10.00 am |
04.00 am |
08.00 am |
| 11.00 am |
05.00 am |
09.00 am |
| 12.00 pm |
06.00 am |
10.00 am |
| 13.00 pm |
07.00 am |
11.00 am |
| 14.00 pm |
08.00 am |
12.00 pm |
| 15.00 pm |
09.00 am |
13.00 pm |
| 16.00 pm |
10.00 am |
14.00 pm |
Attention
If you are admitted to hospital one day before your operation: In this case, there is no need to stop eating or drinking before you come to the hospital.
If you are taking any medicines, you will have a conversation with the anaesthetist on whether you can continue to take these, or whether you need to stop for the time being. The agreements you have made about this can be found in the letter about your medicines. You can see this letter in MijnIsala > My Record (Dossier) > Letters (Brieven).
Has your health or medication changed?
Shortly before your operation, we will check whether there have been any changes in your health or medication.
If you are taking blood thinners
You may need to stop taking any blood thinners a few days before your operation. Your anaesthetist or the Thrombosis department will tell you when to stop taking your blood thinners, and when you can start taking them again.
If you have any questions, feel free to call.
Preoperative screening
+31 88 624 21 39 (lines open 08:30 to 17:00, Monday to Friday)
