To assess the impact of preprocedural fasting on blood glucose levels in children undergoing non-operating room anesthesia (NORA) for elective diagnostic radiological procedures on outpatient basis- A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study.

Prolonged fasting can cause significant discomfort in paediatric patients, leading to irritability, dehydration, and other physiological stress responses.

Studies report that the incidence of hypoglycaemia in children who fast for prolonged periods ranges from 3% to 12%, even in healthy individuals. A study by Theodor S. Sigurdsson and colleagues examined 300 children with a mean age of 6.4 years undergoing elective procedures. It found that 12.3% experienced hypoglycaemia, with the lowest blood glucose level recorded at 1.6 mmol/L. These findings are critical, as untreated hypoglycaemia can result in serious complications such as seizures, neurological damage, and in rare cases, death.

The effect of fasting guidelines on blood glucose levels in children receiving NORA remains under-researched. This study aims to assess hypoglycaemia incidence and explore the reasons for fasting guideline non-compliance, ultimately helping improve safety protocols and reduce fasting-related complications in paediatric anaesthesia.

Primary objective- To assess the incidence of capillary low blood glucose (less than 70 mg/dl) levels using point of care glucometer among children receiving non- operating room anaesthesia for diagnostic radiological procedures on outpatient basis.

Secondary objective- To identify the reasons for non-compliance to standard fasting guidelines by usage of a printed questionnaire.