Abstract
This prospective, randomized, singleblind study of 121 healthy children aged 2 to 12 yr investigated the effect of clear fluids on gastric contents. Gastric fluid volume and pH were measured immediately following the induction of general anaesthesia and were not significantly affected by the ingestion of unlimited clear fluids up to three hours preoperatively. After a prolonged fast (mean fast 14 hr), gastric fluid volume was 0.39 ± 0.37ml · kg−1 and gastric pH was 1.7 ± 0.4; after unlimited clear fluids (203 ± 109 ml) up to three hours before surgery gastric fluid volume was 0.34 ± 0.28 ml · kg−1 and gastric pH was 1.8 ± 0.7 (mean ± SD). Gastric fluid volume (ml-kg−1) increased in both the control and study groups as age increased, P < 0.005. It is concluded that drinking clear fluid up to three hours before scheduled surgery does not have a measurable effect on gastric volume and pH of healthy children of âgés 2 to 12 yr.
Résumé
Cette étude prospective randomisée à simple insu chez 121 enfants en bonne santé âgés de 2 á 12 ans a étudié les effets de l’administration de liquide clair sur le contenu gastrique. Le volume gastrique et son pH ont ete mesures immediatement après l’induction de ianesthesie generale et n’etaient pas significativement affectés par Iingestion d’une quantité illimitée de liquide clair jusqu’ à trois heures avant la chirurgie. Après un jeûne prolongé (jeûne moyen = 14 heures), le volume du liquide gastrique était de 0,39 ± 0,37 ml · kg−1 et le pH gastrique était de 1,7 ± 0,4; après une quantité illimitee de liquide clair (203 ± 109 ml) jusqu’ à trois heures avant la chirurgie, le volume du liquide gastrique était de 0,34 ± 0,28 ml · kg−1 et le pH gastrique était de 1,8 ± 0,7 (moyenne ± SD). Le volume du liquide gastrique (ml · kg−1) augmenta tant chez le groupe contrôle que le groupe étudié en fonction de l’âge, P < 0,05. On conclut que I’ingestion de liquide clair jusqu’a trois heures avant la chirurgie n’affecte pas d’unefaccon mesurable le volume du liquide gastrique et son pH chez les enfants en bonne santé et âgés de 2 a 12 ans.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Splinter WM, Stewart JA, Muir JG. The effect of preoperative apple juice on gastric contents, thirst, and hunger in children. Can J Anaesth 1989; 36: 55–8.
Splinter WM, Stewart JA, Muir JG. Large volumes of apple juice preoperativcly do not affect gastric pH and volume in children. Can J Anaesth 1990; 37: 36–9.
van der Walt JH, Carter JA. The effect of different pre-opcrative feeding regimens on plasma glucose and gastric volume and pH in infancy. Anaesth Intensive Care 1986; 14: 352–9.
Farrow-Gillespie A, Christensen S, Lerman J. Effect of the fasting interval on gastric pH and volume in children. Anesth Analg 1988; 67: S59.
Sandhar BK, Maltby JR, Goresky G, Strunin L. Preoperative fluids and ranitidine in children. Br J Anaesth 1987; 59: 324P-5P.
Manual of Clinical Dietetics. Chicago: American Dietetic Association, 1988, 171–3.
Murray DP, Welsh JD, Rankin RA, Warner R. Survey: Use of clear fluid and full liquid diets with or without commercially produced formulas. J Parenter Enterai Nutr 1985; 9: 732–4.
Brock-Utne JG, Rout C, Moodley J, Mayat N. Influence of preoperative gastric aspiration on the volume and pH of gastric contents in obstetric patients undergoing Caesarian section. Br J Anaesth 1989; 62: 397–401.
Minami H, McCallum RW. The physiology and pathophysiology of gastric emptying in humans. Gastroenterology 1984; 86: 1592–610.
Erskine L, Hunt JN. The gastric emptying of small volumes given in quick succession. J Physiol 1981; 313: 335–41.
Hunt JN, MacDonald I. The influence of volume on gastric emptying. J Physiol 1954; 126: 459–74.
Moore JG, Christian PE, Coleman RE. Gastric emptying of varying meal weight and composition in man. Evaluation by dual liquid- and solid-phase isotopic method. Dig Dis Sci 1981; 26: 16–22.
Plourde G, Hardy JF. Aspiration pneumonia: assessing the risk of regurgitation in the cat. Can Anaesth Soc J 1986; 33: 345–8.
Hardy J-F. Large volume gastroesophageal reflux: a rationale for risk reduction in the perioperative period. Can J Anaesth 1988; 35: 162–73.
Hardy J-F, Plourde G, Lebrun M, Cote C, Dube S, Lepage Y. Determining gastric contents during general anaesthesia: evaluation of two methods. Can J Anaesth 1987; 34: 474–7.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Splinter, W.M., Schaefer, J.D. & Zunder, I.H. Clear fluids three hours before surgery do not affect the gastric fluid contents of children. Can J Anaesth 37, 498–501 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03006315
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03006315