Summary of Recommendations

Document Overview

Design and created by Guideline Central in participation with the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Preoperative Fasting and the Use of Pharmacologic Agents to Reduce the Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration

American Society of Anesthesiologists

Publication Date: Mar 1, 2017

Page Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Document Overview

Document Title: Preoperative Fasting and the Use of Pharmacologic Agents to Reduce the Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration

Authoring Society: American Society of Anesthesiologists

Document Publication Date: Mar 1, 2017

Page Last Reviewed/Updated: May 5, 2026

Document Type: Guideline

Country of Publication: United States

Full Text Freely Available: Yes

Full Text Guideline: anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org/article.aspx?articleid=2596245

Source Citation: Practice Guidelines for Preoperative Fasting and the Use of Pharmacologic Agents to Reduce the Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration: Application to Healthy Patients Undergoing Elective Procedures: An Updated Report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preoperative Fasting and the Use of Pharmacologic Agents to Reduce the Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration*. Anesthesiology 2017;126(3):376-393.

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives: Provide direction for clinical practice related to preoperative fasting and the use of pharmacologic agents to reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration and to reduce the severity of complications related to perioperative pulmonary aspiration.

Scope: Assessment and Screening, Counseling, Management, Prevention

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D053120 - Respiratory Aspiration

D053120 - Respiratory Aspiration

Keywords: Anesthesiology, Preoperative Fasting, Pulmonary Aspiration

Target Patient Population: healthy patients of all ages undergoing elective procedures

Target Provider Population: Anesthesiologists

Inclusion Criteria: Male, Female, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Infant, Older Adult

Health Care Settings: Hospital, Outpatient

Intended Users: Medical Assistant, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Supplemental Methodology Resource: Data Supplement

Number of Source Documents: 107

Literature Search Start Date: Friday, January 1, 2010

Literature Search End Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Includes peer/external review process?: Yes

Includes public comment process?: No

Methodologist involvement?: Yes

Patient involvement?: No

Includes multi-disciplinary group?: Yes

Includes systematic review?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of evidence?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of recommendation?: Yes

Discloses funding source?: Yes

Discloses conflicts of interest?: Yes

Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?: No