Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Sun, 3 Sep 1995 09:50:44 -0400 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Dear Janet and others,
NPO means "Nothing per os," "per os" being "by mouth."
So-- "nothing by mouth."
"po meds" are medicines taken by mouth (as opposed to IM-intramuscular,
IV-intravenous or SC- subcutaneous (under the skin).
People are often put NPO after midnight before surgery to avoid aspiration,
young children often NPO for 4-8 hours before surgery, etc., so they probably
think they're being liberal to say npo for only one hour.
I agree that npo for one hour is probably appropriate for abm-fed babies, but
breastmilk is so physiologic aspiration is not a risk, and npo should not be
necessary.
Tina Smillie, MD (pediatrics)
back on lactnet after a month of nomail. I've missed you all.
|
|
|