AANA journal course: update for nurse anesthetists--pulmonary aspiration revisited: changing attitudes toward preoperative fasting.

Pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia, although rare in most patients, remains a very real concern for anesthesia providers. Recently, an extensive collection of data has emerged demonstrating a seemingly benign effect of gastric pH and volume from clear liquids consumed 2 to 3 hours prior to surgery in select patients. This AANA Journal course will evaluate the risk of pulmonary aspiration and relate this to specific identifying characteristics described to influence risk. Gastric physiology will be reviewed and current research will be examined evaluating the impact of clear liquids on specific outcome variables.