EFFECTS OF PREOPERATIVE FASTING ON MORBIDITY AND GASTRIC CONTENTS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING DAY-STAY SURGERY

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Abstract
The effects of overnight fasting on gastric contents and on the symptoms associated with fasting were studied prospectively in female outpatients. Group A (n = 66) were patients scheduled for first trimester therapeutic abortion; group B (n = 66) were scheduled for minor gynaecological surgery. It was demonstrated that overnight fasting (15±3 h) did not guarantee an empty stomach (volume 22±13 ml) and that gastric acidity was high (pH 1.6±0.5). Gastric volumes and pH were the same in both groups. Group A patients had a higher incidence of preoperative nausea and vomiting (P < 0.001). Before anaesthesia, 50% of all patients had symptoms of moderate to severe hunger, while 44% of patients had symptoms of moderate to severe thirst. Neither the severity of symptoms of fasting nor the duration of fast correlated with gastric volume or pH. Patients in group A had significantly greater symptoms of hunger; however, they also had fasted for significantly longer (P < 0.002).

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