Question

The medical assistant is providing a patient preoperative instructions. The patient was instructed to remain NPO which means?

A) No solid foods.
B) Nothing to eat past midnight.
C) Nothing by mouth.
D) Nothing to eat past 1pm.

Answer 1

NPO is a medical abbreviation for 'Nothing by Mouth,' a preoperative instruction indicating that the patient should not consume any food or liquids prior to surgery. This is to prevent the risk of aspiration during anesthesia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The instruction for a patient to remain NPO prior to surgery means that they are to have Nothing by Mouth. This includes no food, no liquids, and no medications unless specified by the doctor or anesthesiologist. It's a common preoperative directive to ensure that the patient has an empty stomach before anesthesia to reduce the risk of aspiration, which is when stomach contents are expelled into the lungs, potentially causing severe complications.

Before skin incision, the surgical team will perform a time out to ensure all preoperative measures are in place. Before induction of anesthesia, the team will sign in to confirm details such as identity, surgical site, and that NPO status is observed. Postoperatively, the surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional will review aloud any key concerns for patient care and recovery.