After ingesting milk, how long must a patient fast before sedation?

• A. 2 hours
• B. 6 hours
• C. 8 hours
• D. 1 hour

Answer: (B)

Fasting times before sedation depend on what was last eaten because the stomach needs to be clear to reduce the risk of aspiration during sedation. Milk is not a clear liquid; it has fat and protein, so it slows gastric emptying like a light meal. The standard precaution is to wait about six hours after a light meal before sedation, to give the stomach enough time to empty. That’s why six hours is the best choice.

Two hours isn’t enough for milk, since clear liquids are the only things allowed that short. One hour is far too short and increases aspiration risk. Eight hours would be more than necessary for a typical light meal like milk, unless the meal were heavier or had more fat.