A 30-year-old patient is scheduled for day-care knee arthroscopy under general anaesthesia. According to standard preoperative fasting guidelines, what is the minimum required fasting time for clear fluids before surgery?
- A 1 hour
- B 2 hours ✓
- C 4 hours
- D 6 hours
Correct answer: B. 2 hours
Explanation
Standard preoperative fasting guidelines recommend a minimum of 2 hours for clear fluids before elective procedures requiring anaesthesia. Four hours is the minimum for light meals, and 6 hours for heavy or fatty meals. One hour is insufficient to guarantee gastric emptying and increases aspiration risk. Following these guidelines ensures patient safety while minimizing unnecessary dehydration before day-care procedures.
Reference: Morgan and Mikhail's Clinical Anesthesiology, 6th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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