Dr. Brian Klagges received his medical degree (MD) from the State University of New York at Buffalo. As the director of Elliot Hospital in Manchester, New Hampshire, Dr. Brian Klagges specializes in several minimally invasive spine procedures. In addition, he is a member of professional organizations such as the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has recommended new guidelines for eating and taking Ozempic before surgical procedures. Patients must stop eating for a set period before surgery to prevent infections from a full stomach during an operation. For patients on Ozempic, fasting may not be enough.
Ozempic is a weekly injection for adults with type 2 diabetes, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 as a GLP-1 class drug. While research remains limited, some evidence suggests GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic, can delay stomach emptying and increase the risk of food aspiration in the lungs for patients under anesthesia. It may also increase the chances of regurgitation during surgery.
ASA leadership has underscored the need for more data but advises physicians to treat patients on GLP-1 drugs as if they were undergoing surgery with a full stomach.
