الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Abstention from food and drink prior to anesthesia remains a corner stone in safe practice. It is thought that fasting (NPO from midnight) reduces the risk of regurgitation and aspiration of gastric contents during surgery. Because such rigid guidelines in children caused fussy, more thirsty, more irritable and possibly hypoglycemic patients, studies documenting no increase in gastric fluid volume with liberalization of clear liquid up to 2 hours. This provides a more human approach for both children and their parents without increasing the risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents. Since, there may be a discrepancy between conclusion based on scientific studies and the current routine practice which may be due to a degree of uncertainty in evaluating the evidence, fear of litigation and difficulty in discarding old habits. The present study is intended to provide a scientific evidence on the benefit of permitted clear fluids up to 2 hours before surgery for healthy patients scheduled for elective procedures without adverse outcome and the possibility of increased comfort in the peri operative period. The introduction of liberalized fasting guidelines has been supported by re-appraisal of older data and more recent scientific studies. In the current randomized controlled study, 80 pediatric patients were studied for all children, milk and solids were administered until midnight on the day before surgery. Just prior to the fasting period, the patients were instructed to ingest unlimited amount of apple juice. The patients divided into four equal groups according to the duration of fasting (n = 20). |