The amount of time that a patient should not eat or drink varies by procedure and the preferences of the health care professional. In addition to not eating before surgery, a patient should also have a relatively light, healthy last meal before beginning the fast and not smoke or drink alcohol.
Definition of amputate. amputated. ; amputating. transitive verb. : to remove by or as if by cutting; especially : to cut (a part, such as a limb) from the body.
Save life! An amputation is a âremoval of a part of the body, a limb, or part of a limb to treat recurrent infection or gangrene in peripheral vascular disease, to remove malignant tumors, and to treat severe traumaâ (Mosby, 2009, p. 88).