Longevity & AgingNew Global Consensus Cuts Pre-Surgery Fasting Times to Protect Patients
An international multidisciplinary panel of 68 experts used a three-round Delphi process to update peri-operative fasting guidance. The consensus found that existing guidelines often lead to patients fasting far longer than necessary — sometimes 14+ hours without food and 9+ hours without fluids. Eight recommendations were agreed upon, maintaining 6-hour solid food fasting but encouraging clear liquid intake until 2 hours before anaesthesia. Hospitals are urged to adopt even more liberal protocols. Post-operative oral intake should resume as soon as clinically feasible. The guidance aims to reduce patient discomfort, metabolic stress, impaired recovery, and muscle weakness caused by unnecessarily prolonged fasting, while maintaining safety margins against pulmonary aspiration.
