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CD-ROM Today 1996 January
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1994-01-17
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$Unique_ID{BRK01005}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Why was Chewing Gum a Reason to Cancel an Operation?}
$Subject{anesthesia NPO Special Procedures procedure operation chewing gum
saliva stomach fluid operations surgery surgeries}
$Volume{P-11}
$Log{}
Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
Why was Chewing Gum a Reason to Cancel an Operation?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION: I was supposed to have an operation that would keep me in the
hospital for just a day. I was instructed not to eat after midnight the
evening before. Because I was so nervous, I chewed some gum during the
morning, but the anesthetist cancelled my operation because I hadn't listened
to the instructions. Wasn't she being a little overcautious?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWER: Perhaps so, but rules differ from hospital to hospital. The reason
for the NPO order (nothing by mouth) is to reduce the contents of the stomach,
and lessen the possibility of having these liquids sucked into delicate lung
tissues, if you have a stomach spasm while under anesthesia. Since chewing
gum (or sucking candy) increases the production of saliva and stomach
secretions, the anesthetist was just playing it safe.
----------------
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.