Nothing to Eat or Drink After Midnight?

[faisay]

Why do they tell you not to eat or drink after midnight if you are having surgery? What will happen if I drink a Diet Pepsi at 12:30 AM and I have surgery scheduled at 11:00am?

 

[Supernatural Fan]

that is so when you have anesthetic and a breathing tube is used, you won't throw up and asphyxiate.
flan

 

[egsgs]

The no-eating-drinking clause is also so you won't urinate or defecate on the operating table.

In abdominal surgeries it's very important that the intestines are free (as much as possible) of fecal matter due to the high risk of fatal infection should anything go wrong and the intestinal wall is breached, even slightly.

 

[Anon09]

The no eating/drinking is due to the anesthesia and the potential of aspiration if vomiting is to occur, which would be very serious.