New guidelines from the Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement advise patients using GLP-1 medications for weight loss to fast for a longer period of time preoperatively, according to a June 5 Medscape report.
In June 2023, the American Society of Anesthesiologists released initial guidelines for GLP-1 users, instructing them to hold usage of the medication leading up to procedures requiring anesthesia.
New guidelines do not recommend ceasing usage of GLP-1s, but rather, avoiding solid foods for 24 hours before procedures requiring anesthesia.
A longer fasting period helps with potential risks that come with GLP-1s, including delayed gastric emptying, which can increase the risk of aspiration while under anesthesia.
The new statement is “the first to provide recommendations for perioperative management of patients taking GLP-1 RAs based on an in-depth systematic literature review of both clinical perioperative studies and gastric emptying data,” Adriana Oprea, MD, first author of the society’s guidelines, wrote.
Completely ceasing GLP-1 usage can lead to poor outcomes for weight loss patients, precipitating GI symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation.
The new consensus, which allows patients to continue taking medications pre-operatively, can help avoid these symptoms.
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