Changing preoperative fasting policies: Impact of a national consensus

• Published in: Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 1998-11, Vol.42 (10), p.1188-1191
• Main Authors: Fasting, S., SØReide, E., Ræder, J. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia; Anesthesia Department, Hospital - organization & administration; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Anesthesiology; Attitude of Health Personnel; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Eating; elective; Fasting; Food; General anesthesia. Technics. Complications. Neuromuscular blocking. Premedication. Surgical preparation. Sedation; Health Policy; Humans; Medical sciences; Norway; Policy Making; practice guidelines; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Preoperative Care; prevention; surgery; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0001-5172; 1399-6576
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1998.tb05275.x

Background: Liberalisation of preoperative fasting rules has been discussed and recommended in the anaesthesia literature in recent years. In Norway, a national consensus on this issue was reached in 1993. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a national consensus on fasting recommendations led to a change in fasting policies in Norwegian anaesthesia departments. Methods: A questionnaire on preoperative fasting routines was sent to all Norwegian anaesthesia departments in 1993 and repeated in 1996. Results: Written local guidelines for preoperative fasting were present in 85% of the institutions in both surveys. Of the hospitals, 69% had changed their local guidelines after the national consensus. In 1996 more hospitals allowed less than 6 h fasting for clear liquids in children (93% versus 71% in 1993; P