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VIDEO: Here’s why doctors tell you not to eat before surgery

Doctors will be able to work 24 hour stretches starting July 1 under new guidelines by the group that oversees medical residency programs.

Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Doctors will be able to work 24 hour stretches starting July 1 under new guidelines by the group that oversees medical residency programs.
March 16, 2017

There are several precautions to take when preparing for surgery. One includes not eating or drinking anything the night before, but what’s the big deal?

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Doctors advise this in order to minimize the risk of aspiration pneumonia, which can be caused by vomiting.

When a patient vomits after going under the knife, the food or acidic contents can come back up an enter into the lungs. That could be catastrophic.

If a patient does happen to consume food, an anesthesiologist will remove anything in the stomach.

Take a look at Business Insider's video below for the full explanation.

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