Comparison of Different Preoperative Fasting Times in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Elective General Anaesthesia

Pre-operative fasting is a specific time period before a procedure in which participants will be advised not to take any liquid or solid by mouth. Nil per oral (NPO) is a universally accepted practice before elective general anesthesia in order to reduce gastric contents aspiration. In the period of chloroform anesthesia NPO was introduced because of vomiting and discomfort associated with anesthesia. Hence prevention from aspiration of gastric contents was a main focus during general anesthesia. With introduction of better anesthesia drugs recommendations were given to keep minimal fasting time before general anesthesia.

Recent guidelines suggest six, four and two hours fasting for solids/ infant formula milk, breast milk and clear fluids respectively. It is common practice to keep children NPO for 6 hours before surgery. But many times, children have to suffer excessive unnecessary fasting due to delayed surgery that lead to reduction in systolic blood pressure, induce catabolic state and behavioral effects. Moreover prolonged fasting increases insulin resistance and may increase the inflammatory response to surgery.