Why can’t I eat or drink before my procedure?
It is vitally important, for you own safety, that you not drink or eat anything before your procedure, even if you are having a local anaesthetic. Times will vary according to the institution and you should check with your team.
You are advised not to eat or drink because of the danger of inhaling stomach contents, a process called "aspiration." When you are awake your body has an effective mechanism to stop this from happening, however when you are unconscious this mechanism does not work.
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