Your body has reflexes that prevent food from being aspirated (into the lungs when it is swallowed or regurgitated). Anesthesia drugs can impair these reflexes, which can cause food to be inhaled into the lungs. This food may contain bacteria which can cause complications such as pneumonia when inhaled into the lungs. It is important not to eat or drink anything after midnight the day of your scheduled procedure, unless given direction by your physician or pre-operative phone nurse. This includes no water, food, gum, candy, lozenges or chewing tobacco. We recommend you avoid smoking prior to your surgery.