Summary of ‘Preoperative fasting for preventing perioperative complications in children’

✍ Scribed by Jilleen Kosko

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 67 KB
• Volume: 1
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1557-6272
• DOI: 10.1002/ebch.16

✦ Synopsis

Can children considered to be at normal risk of complications during anesthesia safely consume clear fluids and/or light meals closer to the time of surgery than standard fasting recommendations?

To answer this question, scientists working with the Cochrane Wounds Group analysed 23 trials involving a total of 2350 children (up to 18 years of age) considered to be at normal risk of regurgitation or aspiration during anesthesia. Children at 'normal risk' are described as being otherwise healthy and undergoing elective (non-emergency) surgery.