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Hunger and thirst numeric rating scales are not valid estimates for gastric content volumes: a prospective investigation in healthy children
Author(s) -
Buehrer Sabin,
Hanke Ursula,
Klaghofer Richard,
Fruehauf Melanie,
Weiss Markus,
Schmitz Achim
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pediatric anesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.704
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1460-9592
pISSN - 1155-5645
DOI - 10.1111/pan.12276
Subject(s) - thirst , medicine , crossover study , rating scale , receiver operating characteristic , gastric fluid , gastric emptying , anesthesia , stomach , gastroenterology , pathology , psychology , developmental psychology , alternative medicine , placebo , chemistry , chromatography
Aim A rating scale for thirst and hunger was evaluated as a noninvasive, simple and commonly available tool to estimate preanesthetic gastric volume, a surrogate parameter for the risk of perioperative pulmonary aspiration, in healthy volunteer school age children. Method Numeric scales with scores from 0 to 10 combined with smileys to rate thirst and hunger were analyzed and compared with residual gastric volumes as measured by magnetic resonance imaging and fasting times in three settings: before and for 2 h after drinking clear fluid (group A, 7 ml/kg), before and for 4 vs 6 h after a light breakfast followed by clear fluid (7 ml/kg) after 2 vs 4 h (crossover, group B), and before and for 1 h after drinking clear fluid (crossover, group C, 7 vs 3 ml/kg). Results In 30 children aged 6.4–12.8 (median 9.8) years, participating on 1–5 (median two) study days, 496 sets of scores and gastric volumes were determined. Large inter‐ and intra‐individual variations were seen at baseline and in response to fluid and food intake. Significant correlations were found between hunger and thirst ratings in all groups, with children generally being more hungry than thirsty. Correlations between scores and duration of fasting or gastric residual volumes were poor to moderate. Receiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) analysis revealed that thirst and hunger rating scales cannot predict gastric content. Conclusion Hunger and thirst scores vary considerably inter‐ and intra‐individually and cannot predict gastric volume, nor do they correlate with fasting times in school age children.