Risks of Weight-Loss Drugs: Anesthesia Complications and Surgery Concerns

Medical professionals are warning that weight-loss drugs, specifically GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, can increase the risk of complications during surgery. These drugs slow down digestion and stomach emptying, which can interfere with the effectiveness of pre-surgery fasting and lead to aspiration of solids into the lungs. Current guidelines recommend abstaining from these drugs for a day before surgery, but researchers suggest extending the period to three weeks to ensure the drugs have cleared from the body. Anecdotal research and observational studies have shown a significant risk of aspiration, but rigorous clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings. Patients on GLP-1 drugs for type 2 diabetes are advised to consult an endocrinologist and abstain from the drug for "at least three half-lives" before planned procedures.