NPO Guidelines
NPO (period without food) guidelines refer to your child's food and fluid intake the night prior to and the morning of his/her surgery.
Ages 12 and over:
- Nothing by mouth (including gum and candy) after midnight
Ages 1 to 11 years:
- Nothing by mouth after midnight
- May have clear liquids up to 3 hours before procedure
- Clear liquids are liquids through which print can be read: e.g., apple juice, water, Pedia-lyte, plain popsicles, and clear jello. DO NOT give tomato juice, orange juice with pulp, or milk as these are NOT clear liquids.
Infants under 1 year:
- May have formula up to 6 hours before procedure
- May have breast milk up to 4 hours before procedure
- May have clear liquids up to 3 hours before procedure
- Clear liquids are liquids through which print can be read: e.g., apple juice, water, Pedia-lyte, plain popsicles, and clear jello. DO NOT give tomato juice, orange juice with pulp, or milk as these are NOT clear liquids.
All ages:
- Morning medications may be taken with sips of water
- Gastrosomy tube (G-tube) feedings: follow above guidelines
- Jejunostomy tube (J-tube) feedings DO NOT need to be held if tolerating
- No gum or hard candy after midnight
If your surgery is scheduled after 1:00 pm, you may be given special instructions for the day prior to surgery. Follow the instructions you are given.