Pediatric anesthesia & critical care
Gastric ultrasound assessment of two preoperative fasting regimens in pediatric patients: A randomized clinical trial
Authors' conclusion
Prolonged preoperative fasting may be unnecessary. The 6-4-0 fasting regimen can be applied to pediatric patients before elective surgeries without increasing the incidence of "at risk stomach,"
Study context
- Population
- Children presenting for elective surgery
- Participants
- 200 children
- Comparison
- Liberal vs standard preoperative fasting regimen
- Primary endpoint
- Proportion of patients with an "at-risk stomach" on preoperative gastric ultrasound
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
"At-risk stomach"
Liberal
3%
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualitative gastric assessmentComparable; Cramer V = 0.139 (low effect size) | 1.536 (0.883–2.670) | |
| 0.20.5125Odds ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | Liberal | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Actual fasting duration | (95% CI 0.744–2.016) | |
| Estimated gastric volume/weight ratio | (95% CI 0.114–0.214) | |
| Surgery cancellation | 2% |
- Actual fasting duration — Actual fasting significantly longer than prescribed in each group
- p < 0.001
- Actual fasting duration: significantly longer in the standard group; η2 = 0.068 (medium effect size)
- Estimated gastric volume/weight ratio: significantly increased in the standard group; η2 = 0.171 (large effect size)
Safety
| Outcome | Standard | Liberal |
|---|---|---|
| Hunger and thirst (complications of prolonged fasting) | 9% | |
| Thirsty | 10% | — not stated in the abstract |
| Adverse effects | 0 events | 0 events |
— not stated in the abstract
- Hunger and thirst (complications of prolonged fasting): 9% hungry, 10% thirsty in the standard group
Original publication
Gastric ultrasound assessment of two preoperative fasting regimens in pediatric patients: A randomized clinical trial. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. Published 22 December 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →