Sip Til Send - New guidance on patient fluid intake before surgery (CPOC)

Summary

Historically, policies about patients waiting to go into surgery have stated no food for six hours before surgery, clear fluids until two hours before surgery and then ‘Nil By Mouth’ (NBM) until their operation. In practice, it can be difficult to predict when the operation will start, so some patients are kept starved for hours. This can cause dehydration and discomfort.

Sip Til Send is a worldwide initiative allowing patients to sip small volumes of water (or similar fluid) while waiting before surgery until they are sent for to have their operation. Allowing people to sip water until they are sent for by the operating theatre team means that they are hydrated and more comfortable with less nausea, fewer headaches and a lower chance of needing an intravenous drip.

This webpage includes:

• Details of the new protocol
• List of contraindications (when the protocol should not be used)
• Tips for implementation
• Patient information leaflet