Factors that may influence perioperative management include: Medication characteristics : Daily GLP-1 medications (liraglutide, oral semaglutide) have shorter durations of action than weekly formulations (injectable semaglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide extended-release) [3] Risk factors : Higher doses, recent dose increases, active gastrointestinal symptoms, or known gastroparesis may increase risk [1] [3] Procedure type : More complex surgeries or those requiring general anaesthesia may warrant different approaches than minor procedures Individual patient factors : BMI, presence of diabetes, and other medical conditions Some anaesthetists may recommend temporarily pausing GLP-1 therapy before certain procedures, particularly for patients with additional risk factors
Understanding how these medications differ can help you have a more informed conversation with your provider
At minimum: hsCRP, IL-6 (if your lab offers it), fasting insulin, HbA1c, complete metabolic panel, thyroid function, vitamin D level, and a complete blood count
If you're using tirzepatide for diabetes management, glucose control may deteriorate as the drug's insulinotropic effects wane
