Procedure prep
Fasting Before Knee Arthroscopy
Knee arthroscopy is keyhole surgery to look inside and treat the knee joint. It's almost always a day case, but because it's done under general or spinal anesthesia — often with a nerve block for pain — you still need to fast.
Fasting for this procedure
→ Get your exact fasting times with the calculator
Medicines to check
- Blood thinners (aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto) — see medications to stop.
- Diabetes medicines & insulin — they need a plan. See diabetes tablets.
- GLP-1 (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) — tell your team. See the GLP-1 guide.
- Blood pressure medicines — confirm which to take with a sip of water and which to hold.
When this surgery may be delayed
- Fever, a new cough/cold, or a chest infection
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Very high blood pressure or blood sugar
- You ate or drank outside your fasting window
- A skin infection, rash, or broken skin over the knee
Reports & documents to carry
- Photo ID and insurance card
- A written list of all your medicines and doses
- Any blood tests, ECG, or scans your team asked for
- Consent forms or referral letters, and allergy details
- Your knee MRI or X-ray reports
- A responsible adult to drive you home (it's a day case)
What to ask your anesthesia team
- Will I have general anesthesia, spinal/regional, or sedation?
- Which medicines do I take or hold on the morning of surgery?
- When can I eat and drink afterward?
- Will I go home the same day, and who can drive me?
- Will I have a nerve block for pain, and which leg muscles will be numb?
- Will I need crutches, and can I put weight on the knee?
Your prep checklist
Tick things off as you sort them — saved on this device only, nothing is sent anywhere.
A general guide — your hospital's own instructions always come first.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast for a knee arthroscopy?
Yes. Even though it's keyhole day-case surgery, it's done under general or spinal anesthesia, so stop solids about 8 hours before and clear liquids about 2 hours before your arrival time.
Will I be awake during knee arthroscopy?
It depends on the plan. Under general anesthesia you're fully asleep; under spinal anesthesia you're awake but numb from the waist down (often with sedation so you're relaxed). Your anesthesiologist will discuss which suits you.
When will the nerve block wear off, and when should I take pain medicine?
If you have a nerve block your knee may stay numb for several hours after surgery. Start your prescribed pain medicine before the numbness fully fades so you stay ahead of the pain — our nerve block wear-off timer helps you time it and set an alarm.