International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2020
Observational StudyGastric emptying of carbohydrate drinks in term parturients before elective caesarean delivery: an observational study.
Pre-operative carbohydrate (CHO) drinks have shown some benefits peri-operatively and have been incorporated into many Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) programmes. We assessed the gastric emptying of pre-operative CHO drinks prior to elective caesarean delivery using ultrasonography. ⋯ The gastric emptying of this cohort of pregnant women suggests that 400 mL of a CHO drink can be safely consumed up to two hours before elective surgery. This study can help inform future peri-operative fasting guidelines for pregnant patients.