Forbes January 30, 2025
Katherine Hignett

Officials in the U.K. have warned that increasingly popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic may carry extra risks for people who need surgery.

The drugs slow the release of food and liquid from the stomach, making patients feel fuller for longer and helping many shed excess pounds. But this same mechanism may increase the risk of rare surgical complication called “aspiration,” where the contents of the stomach enter the lungs.

Patients normally fast before surgical procedures to reduce the chance of them inhaling any food or liquid from their gut while under anesthetic. But those on certain weight-loss and diabetes medications may still have leftovers in their system after a standard pre-surgical fast, according to an alert from the U.K.’s Medicines...

Today's Sponsors

Venturous
Got healthcare questions? Just ask Transcarent

Today's Sponsor

Venturous

 
Topics: Biotechnology, Patient / Consumer, Pharma / Biotech, Provider
Fast-Tracking Development: How Life Sciences Will Drive Speed in 2025
How Technology is Impacting Launch Strategy Timelines
mRNA Vaccine Shows Promise In Pancreatic Cancer Trial
Hims & Hers vs. Novo Nordisk: Are Compounded GLP-1s Safe?
On Heels of FDA Nod, BridgeBio’s Rival to Blockbuster Pfizer Drug Wins European Approval

Share This Article