[Does abbreviation of preoperative fasting to two hours with carbohydrates increase the anesthetic risk?].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of possible anesthetic complications related with the abbreviation of preoperative fasting to two hours with a solution of 12.5% dextrinomaltose within the ACERTO (from the Portuguese for Acceleration of Total Postoperative Recovery) project.

METHODS

All patients undergoing different types of digestive tract and abdominal wall surgeries within a new protocol of perioperative conducts, established by the ACERTO project, between August 2005 and December 2007 were evaluated. All patients received oral nutritional supplementation (12.5% dextrinomaltose) six and two hours before the procedure. Data were collected prospectively without the knowledge of the professionals in the department. The length of preoperative fasting and anesthetic complications related with the short fasting time (pulmonary aspiration) were recorded.

RESULTS

Three hundred and seventy five patients, 174 male (46.4%) and 201 female (53.6%), ages 18 to 90 years, were evaluated. The mean preoperative fasting time was four hours, ranging from two to 20 hours. Pulmonary aspiration was not observed during the procedures. The length of fasting was longer (p < 0.01) when combined anesthesia (blockade + general) was used.

CONCLUSIONS

Adopting the multidisciplinary preoperative measures of the ACERTO project was not associated with any preoperative fasting-associated complications. Dextrinomaltose is a useful and safe nutritional supplement for the patient.