Sip 'til Send

You can keep drinking approved clear fluids until we call you to theatre

Staying hydrated before surgery reduces headaches, nausea and anxiety. Our hospital participates in the Sip 'til Send program so you don't have to stop drinking hours before your procedure.

Warning — SGLT2 Inhibitors

Diabetic patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin / Jardiance, dapagliflozin / Forxiga) cannot participate in Sip 'til Send.

SGLT2 inhibitors should be stopped 3 days before surgery. These medications carry a risk of euglycaemic DKA — dangerously high ketone levels even when blood sugar appears normal. If your SGLT2 inhibitor has not been stopped, your ketones must be checked on admission regardless of your blood sugar level.

See the Diabetes & Surgery guide for full details.

If you are NOT on these drugs — keep reading!

How It Works

Food — Stop 6 hours before

No food, milk, or milky drinks for 6 hours before your procedure. This has not changed.

Clear Fluids — Keep sipping

You can keep sipping approved clear fluids until we call you to theatre. Up to 200ml per hour.

Approved Clear Fluids

YES — You can drink

Water
Apple juice (no pulp)
Black tea or coffee (no milk)
Cordial
Clear broth
Sports drinks (e.g. Hydralyte)
Jelly (not red)

NO — Do not drink

Milk or milky drinks
Orange juice (or any pulp juice)
Smoothies or protein shakes
Alcohol
Soup with bits
Anything you can't see through

For Children (0–15 years)

Children can have 3ml per kg per hour of approved clear fluids until called to theatre.

10 kg

30 ml/hr

18 kg

50 ml/hr

25 kg

75 ml/hr

Breast milk: stop 4 hours before. Formula/cow's milk: stop 6 hours before.

Who Cannot Participate

Some patients will be asked to follow standard fasting instead. Your anaesthetist or surgeon will let you know.

First patient on the list — clear fluids up to admission time only
TOE (heart ultrasound through throat) +/- cardioversion
GLP-1 medications — Ozempic, Mounjaro, Trulicity, Saxenda, Rybelsus, Wegovy (see Diabetes & Surgery guide)
Patients with known aspiration risk or on fluid restriction
Anaesthetist or surgeon preference — your doctor may decide standard fasting is safer for you

Remember

You are encouraged to sip — but you don't have to if you're not thirsty
Small sips, up to 200ml per hour — not large volumes
If you're unsure whether you can participate, ask your nurse
Staff will record your last fluid intake time

References:
1. WPH Sip 'til Send Protocol (CLI:04:49, May 2025)
2. ANZCA PG07 Guideline on Pre-Anaesthesia Consultation — Appendix 1 (2024)
3. NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation — Perioperative Fasting Sip 'til Send (2024)