Drinking before GA.

[DrCoconut]

My DS is due to have a minor (day case) procedure under GA next week. When the letter says no food after 6:30am but water is allowed until 9:30 (afternoon list) is that only plain water or would flavoured be ok? Obviously not fizzy! He has SEN and doesn't really drink plain water. He will go without if necessary but they said at the assessment appointment to drink if possible as it's better for his hydration levels when he gets there. It's horrible trying to get through to ask so thought I'd see if anyone knows. Thanks.

those timings make no sense at all so it's probably worth checking in case it's some sort of odd procedure specific instruction rather than anaesthetic specific. Usual rules are 6 hours for solids, 2 hours for clear fluids (water/dilute squash/black tea or coffee for the grown-ups), 4 hours for breast milk. If they've said no food after 6.30am then the usual logical follow-on is that clear fluids until 10.30am is encouraged. (It's also common these days to allow either clear fluids until 1hr pre-induction or 'sips til sending' but there's a little bit of anaesthetic discretion involved in that decision so it's decided on arrival usually). DOI: anaesthetist.