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Ricci Z, Colosimo D, Saccarelli L, Pizzo M, Schirru E, Giacalone S, Mancinelli P, Baldini G, Serio P. Preoperative clear fluids fasting times in children: retrospective analysis of actual times and complications after the implementation of 1-h clear fasting. JOURNAL OF ANESTHESIA, ANALGESIA AND CRITICAL CARE 2024; 4:12. [PMID: 38350987 PMCID: PMC10865513 DOI: 10.1186/s44158-024-00149-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preoperative fasting before elective pediatric surgery is a matter of ongoing debate. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the compliance to a recently implemented preoperative fasting protocol (clear fluids until 1 hour from the induction of anesthesia), to identify predictors of prolonged preoperative fasting time, and to determine whether duration of preoperative fasting was associated with adverse outcomes. METHODS Retrospective single-center study in an operating theater of a tertiary pediatric hospital. RESULTS In a 6-month period, 1820 consecutive patients were analyzed. The data collected in the questionnaire reporting the time of last food, milk and/or liquid intake, and eventual reasons for nonadherence was analyzed. Median (interquartile range) preoperative fasting time was 186 (110-345) min. In 502 patients (27.6%), duration of preoperative fasting to clear fluid ranged from 60 to 119 min, whereas in 616 (34%) it was 120-240 min. The reasons for not respecting fasting time rules are mostly related to communication issues or unwillingness by the patients. A significant difference in fasting times was evident between infants and children older than 10 years (188, 105-290 vs. 198, 115-362; p = 0.02). Fasting times were significantly shorter in the inpatient group and in the first scheduled patients of the morning. Clear fluids fasting times were significantly longer in patients with hypovolemia complications than in those without, 373 (185-685) vs. 180 (110-330) min (p < 0.0001). Longer fasting times to clear fluids, younger age, and scheduled surgery time were independently associated with the odds of experiencing complications. CONCLUSIONS In this single pediatric center study, median clear fluids fasting time was three times higher (180 min) than those recommended by the preoperative fasting protocol. Compliance to the protocol was observed in approximately 1 out of 4 patients (27.6%). Longer fasting times were associated with an increased risk of complications, which might be due to dehydration and/or hypovolemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaccaria Ricci
- Anesthesiology Unit, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Meyer Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Florence, Italy.
- Section of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Meyer, Viale Pieraccini 24, 50139, Florence, Italy.
| | - Denise Colosimo
- Anesthesiology Unit, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Meyer Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Saccarelli
- Anesthesiology Unit, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Meyer Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Florence, Italy
| | - Mariateresa Pizzo
- Anesthesiology Unit, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Meyer Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Schirru
- Section of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Salvatore Giacalone
- Anesthesiology Unit, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Meyer Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Mancinelli
- Neuro-anesthesiology Unit, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Meyer Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Florence, Italy
| | - Gabriele Baldini
- Section of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Serio
- Anesthesiology Unit, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Meyer Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Florence, Italy
- Neuro-anesthesiology Unit, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Meyer Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Florence, Italy
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