Open AccessReducing preoperative fasting time: A trend based on evidence
Author(s) -
José Eduardo de Aguilar-Nascimento,
Diana Borges Dock-Nascimento
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
world journal of gastrointestinal surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1948-9366
DOI - 10.4240/wjgs.v2.i3.57
Subject(s) - preoperative fasting , medicine , glutamine , randomized controlled trial , intermittent fasting , surgery , anesthesia , preoperative care , gluconeogenesis , amino acid , metabolism , perioperative , biochemistry , chemistry
Preoperative fasting is mandatory before anesthesia to reduce the risk of aspiration. However, the prescribed 6-8 h of fasting is usually prolonged to 12-16 h for various reasons. Prolonged fasting triggers a metabolic response that precipitates gluconeogenesis and increases the organic response to trauma. Various randomized trials and meta-analyses have consistently shown that is safe to reduce the preoperative fasting time with a carbohydrate-rich drink up to 2 h before surgery. Benefits related to this shorter preoperative fasting include the reduction of postoperative gastrointestinal discomfort and insulin resistance. New formulas containing amino acids such as glutamine and other peptides are being studied and are promising candidates to be used to reduce preoperative fasting time.