Patients who are prescribed popular weight loss medications like Wegovy and Ozempic may face potentially life-threatening complications if they require surgery or other procedures that require an empty stomach for anesthesia, according to an article by the AP. Anesthesiologists in the US and Canada have reported an increase in cases where patients on these drugs inhaled food and liquid into their lungs while sedated because their stomachs were not adequately emptied, even after following the standard instructions to refrain from eating for six to eight hours prior to the procedure. The drugs can slow down digestion to the point where it puts patients at a higher risk for pulmonary aspiration, a condition that can result in lung damage, infections, and even death, warns Dr. Ion Hobai, an anesthesiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
“This is an incredibly serious potential complication that all patients taking these drugs should be aware of,” says Dr. Hobai, who was among the first to identify the issue. Between January and May, nearly 6 million prescriptions were written for drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic in the US for non-diabetic individuals, according to Komodo Health, a healthcare technology company. These drugs work by simulating the actions of hormones that are primarily found in the gut to induce weight loss. They also target the signals between the gut and the brain that regulate appetite and feelings of fullness, as well as slow down the rate at which the stomach empties.
In June, the American Society of Anesthesiologists released guidelines advising patients to avoid taking daily weight-loss medications on the day of their surgery and to pause weekly injections for a week prior to any procedures that require sedation. The decision was based on anecdotal reports of issues, including aspiration, from various regions of the country. The exact number of patients who may be affected by this issue is uncertain. However, due to the potentially dire consequences, Dr. Hobai and a group of colleagues have called for the drug to be discontinued for an even longer period of around three weeks before sedation, as stated in their article in the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. It is worth noting that a recent study suggests Wegovy may have protective effects against heart problems.
Overall, patients should be well-informed about the risks associated with weight loss medications and should consult with their healthcare providers to determine the best course of action before undergoing any surgical or sedation procedures.
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