I`m wondering, if one didn`t follow the no fluids rule (up to 3 hours before going under general anesthesia, didn`t tell the anesthesiologist because I didn`t want to have the surgery cancelled) might that cause a cough immediately after the surgery (eye surgery), several hours later fever, and could one get pneumonia from it. There were no respiratory symptoms prior to surgery + the fever is low grade(100). Doubt that it was going to happen anyway. 

The reason for no fluids (or food) before surgery is to decrease the risk for gastric aspiration. Food or drink can come up the esophagus (food pipe) and into the lungs. In the conscious state your normal reflexes prevent this from happening. A cough and fever could be symptoms of aspiration. The symptoms of aspiration are typically delayed by several hours. Aspiration can progress to pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia can be a serious or even fatal condition. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible. 

I recently went into hospital for a LETZ procedure. I was assessed as a A.S.A 1 status for surgery. (What does the last sentence mean?) I reacted to the general & my doctor has sent me a forwarding letter for future reference in the event of any future anaesthesia. I have not got a clue what it means and i was wondering if you where able to explain the below paragraph to a person who has no medical background. "Upon induction with Midazolam, Fentanyl, Maxalon & Diprivan bile stained fluid was observed welling up into the Oropharynx. Cricoid pressure was applied, suction used and a seven E.T.T passed easily. Minimal bile staining of the cords are noted. Saturation remained greater than 98% on 35% oxygen." Also how serious was this? How is Cricoid Pressure applied? What does E.T.T stand for and what is it? What does "Saturation remained greater than 98% on 35% oxygen" mean? The post- op showed i had minor aspirations had occurred - confirmed with a chest x-ray. I had to stay overnight in hospital. It is important to let the next anaesthesia know the next time? What happens if I am in an accident and they have to give me an anaesthesia? Should i wear a medical alert bracelet having this information on it? I appreciate your time and effort answering the above questions 

ﾠDuring anesthesia many of the body`s protective reflexes are decreased or absent. If you regurgitate (vomit) in the awake state, you are unlikely to aspirate stomach contents into your lungs (you will cough). Under anesthesia however, it is possible for the contents of your stomach to go up the esophagus (food pipe) and then down into your lungs (this is called aspiration), potentially causing significant lung damage. This is the reason why you are advised not to eat or drink for some period before surgery. Your anesthesiologist`s letter describes an episode of aspiration. Aspiration can occasionally occur in otherwise healthy persons, though it is usually associated with risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, trauma or pregnancy. `ASA 1` is the score assigned to you in the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification of health status. ASA 1 indicates a healthy patient without systemic disease. Cricoid pressure is a maneuver designed to prevent aspiration during general anesthesia. Manual pressure is applied, with thumb and index finger, over the cricoid cartilage (just below the Adam`s apple). `ETT` stands for endotracheal tube which is the breathing tube used routinely for general anesthesia. This tube is passed via the nose or mouth through the vocal cords and into the trachea (wind-pipe). `Saturation` refers to the percentage of the hemoglobin in your blood which is carrying oxygen. This is measured by means of a pulse oximeter, a monitoring device that uses a small probe placed on the tip of your fingers or toes. A saturation of 98% indicates well-oxygenated blood. It would be very important to let your anethesiologist know about your problem the next time you need an anesthetic. This is why your anesthesiologist in this case has given you a letter detailing the events. If you are in an accident and unable to tell your doctors about this it might be wise to carry a copy of the letter with you in your wallet. If you have medical problems that predispose you to aspiration you should carry information about these conditions too (consult with your physician about this). A Medic-Alert bracelet (http://www.medicalert.com) is particularly useful for this purpose.