PERIOPERATIVE ANESTHETIC IMPLICATIONS OF TIRZEPATIDE (MOUNJARO) IN SAUDI ARABIA

Tirzepatide, a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, is now a leading therapeutic choice for type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity because it reduces glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body weight more effectively than previous GLP-1 receptor agonists. Its general adoption, Saudi Arabia included, demonstrates its strengths in glycemic control and weight loss. The relationship between GLP-1 receptor agonists and retained gastric content, regurgitation, and bronchoaspiration, despite standard fasting, was evaluated using randomized trials, meta-analyses, and clinical guidelines. Vagally mediated reductions in gastric motility are discussed as a mechanistic pathway along with the additive effects of sedatives and opioids. Clinical data and surgical audits reveal unforeseen airway problems, which sometimes call for adjusted anesthesia starts, quick sequence procedures, and on occasion, delayed surgeries. The guidelines currently in place both internationally and regionally offer various approaches to stopping medication before elective surgery, from all patients stopping to individual assessments informed by point-of-care gastric ultrasound. As utilization expands quickly in Saudi Arabia, balancing less aspiration risk and prevented metabolic instability is particularly key. This review emphasizes the demand for greater perioperative alertness,collaborative multidisciplinary efforts, and customized local procedures to maximize patient safety in this developing treatment space.