Preoperative assessment: fasting after a fatty meal: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anaesthesia · Preoperative assessment: fasting after a fatty meal

Sample item

A man ate a large meal of fried food and meat late last evening and is listed for elective surgery tomorrow morning. According to the standard ASA fasting guidelines, what is the minimum fasting period after such a meal?

A4 hoursB2 hoursC8 hours or moreD6 hours

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. 8 hours or more

Fried or fatty foods and meat delay gastric emptying, and the ASA guideline allows for 8 hours or more after such a meal. A light meal needs 6 hours and clear liquids 2 hours.

Option by option

A. 4 hours
Four hours is the figure for breast milk in infants.
B. 2 hours
Two hours is the minimum for clear liquids only.
C. 8 hours or more (correct)
Correct. Fat and meat slow gastric emptying, so at least 8 hours is advised.
D. 6 hours
Six hours applies to a light meal such as toast and tea, not a heavy fatty meal.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, 8 hours or more. Fried or fatty foods and meat delay gastric emptying, and the ASA guideline allows for 8 hours or more after such a meal.

Why is "4 hours" not the answer?

Four hours is the figure for breast milk in infants.

Why is "2 hours" not the answer?

Two hours is the minimum for clear liquids only.

Why is "6 hours" not the answer?

Six hours applies to a light meal such as toast and tea, not a heavy fatty meal.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Preoperative assessment: fasting after a fatty meal in Anaesthesia. A light meal needs 6 hours and clear liquids 2 hours.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Preoperative assessment: fasting after a fatty meal?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.