Guidance on preoperative fasting

“This multicentre prospective audit from the East Midlands region of the UK demonstrates poor compliance with national and international preoperative fasting guidelines. Patients were fasting from clear fluids and food much longer than is recommended, with the majority of patients undergoing elective surgery fasting >4 h from clear fluids and >12 h from food. Patients undergoing emergency surgery fasted for even more prolonged periods with the
majority fasting >12 h from clear fluids and >24 h from food.” (El-Sharkawy)

El-Sharkawy

El-Sharkawy, A. M. etal (2021). Fasting and surgery timing (FaST) audit. Clinical Nutrition, 40(3), 1405–1412.

Marin, Tania & Johal, Jolyn. Preoperative Preparation (Adults): Fasting. (2023).

Marin, Tania & Magtoto, Elizabeth. Preoperative Preparation (Children): Restriction of Solids and Liquids. (2023).

Pre-Operative Care: Fasting. (2023).

Marin, Tania & Johal, Jolyn. Preoperative Preparation (Adults): Carbohydrate Drinks/Loading. (2023).

Zhu, Q., et al  (2021). Preoperative Fasting Guidelines: Where Are We Now? Findings From Current Practices in a Tertiary Hospital. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 36(4), 388–392.

Levin, R. F. (2024). Preoperative Fasting. New York Nurse, 8(3), 12

Li, Y., et al  (2021). Preoperative Fasting Times for Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery at a Pediatric Hospital in Shanghai: The Big Evidence-Practice Gap. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 36(5), 559–563.

Gonzalo Duran, L.  et al (2024). Short and Prolonged Fasting Prior to the Performance of Tracheostomies in Intensive Therapy: A Retrospective Study. Revista de La Facultad de Medicina Humana, 24(1), 58–64.

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