The European Medicines Agency recently issued a statement advising health care professionals to ensure that patients taking glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for weight loss inform their physician before undergoing surgical procedures. This recommendation stems from the potential risk of respiratory complications associated with these medications.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists slow gastric emptying, leading to prolonged satiety. Consequently, patients taking these drugs may present with a stomach full of food during surgery, despite adhering to preoperative fasting guidelines. This could potentially lead to aspiration.

It is important to note that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has not established a causal relationship between GLP-1 receptor agonists and aspiration. However, as a precautionary measure, the EMA's drug safety committee has announced that the product information for weight-loss drugs will be updated to include a warning, urging patients to inform their health care provider if they are scheduled to undergo surgery under anesthesia or deep sedation.

Physicians should be aware of this potential complication and take appropriate measures to minimize the risk of aspiration in patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists who are undergoing surgical procedures.