>Would someone please send me the info on how long a baby
>needs to fast from a diet of exclusive breastmilk before
>surgery.  I think there was a statement from some related
>organization on this issue.  This would be for a 5-month old
>undergoing anesthesia for a frenotomy.

I searched the archives and found the following which seems to be the most
current.

Pat Gima, IBCLC
_______________________________

A Report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on
Preoperative Fasting ANESTHESIOLOGY 1999;90:896-905

Preoperative Fasting Status (Breast Milk)
There is insufficient published evidence to evaluate the relationship of
the timing of breast milk intake before procedures to the incidence of
emesis/reflux or pulmonary aspiration. The Consultants and Task Force
support a fasting period for breast milk of 4 hours for both neonates
and infants.

Recommendations:
It is appropriate to fast from intake of breast milk for 4 or more hours
before procedures requiring general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, or
sedation/analgesia (i.e., monitored anesthesia care) [Table 1].
Preoperative Fasting Status (Infant Formula)
There is insufficient published evidence to address the safety of any
preoperative fasting period for infant formula. For infants and
children, the Consultants and Task Force support a fasting period of
6 hours. For neonates, the Consultants support a fasting period of 4
hours, and the Task Force supports a fasting period of 6 hours.

Recommendations:
It is appropriate to fast from intake of infant formula for 6 or more
hours before elective procedures requiring general anesthesia, regional
anesthesia, or sedation/analgesia (i.e., monitored
anesthesia care)
--

Denny Rice, RN, IBCLC
Dallas Texas USA

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