Nov 08, 2024
Patients taking GLP-1 medications used to help manage Type 2 diabetes and support weight loss should always share their medication information with their primary care physician (PCP) and other healthcare providers they see.
I am Dr. Scott Ross, Medical Director of Anesthesiology at WVU Medicine United Hospital Center. I am here to speak with you about GLP-1 safety during surgery.
1). What are GLP-1s?
GLP-1s are a class of medications designed to help lower blood sugar and support weight loss.
- Ozempic
- Rybelsus- oral medication
- Wegovy
- Trulicity
- Mounjaro
- Victoza- oral medication
Most are taken once a week by administering a shot in the belly, outer thigh, upper buttocks, or back of the arm.
2). What are some side effects of GLP-1s?
Common side effects of GLP-1s include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gastroparesis, which is a delay in how long it takes a meal or drink to pass through the stomach.
3). What are the risk of taking GLP-1s when a patient needs surgery?
If a patient scheduled for surgery takes their GLP-1 too close to their scheduled surgery day, there is a greater risk that food is still in their stomach. This food could come back up while under anesthesia, leaving the patient with the inability to protect their airway by coughing or gagging. Instead, it can enter the lungs, leading to aspiration.
Aspiration occurs when food, vomit, or another substance enters the lungs. Under anesthesia, a patient cannot clear the substance on their own. This can lead to complications, including death.
This content was originally posted on the WDTV News website here.
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