GLP-1 agonists may raise risk of pulmonary aspiration during surgery, MHRA warns

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) such as semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) may increase the risk of pulmonary aspiration among patients undergoing surgery or procedures with general anaesthesia or deep sedation, the UK drugs regulator has warned.1

In an alert to patients and doctors, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that the drugs, used for weight loss and diabetes, slow down the emptying of the person’s stomach. This means that, despite normal preoperative fasting advice being followed, patients taking these drugs may still have “residual gastric contents” and could experience pulmonary aspiration, potentially causing pneumonia.

In light of this, patients have been told they before any surgical procedure they must tell their healthcare professional team, including their anaesthetist, if they are taking these drugs. But they must …