Korean J Anesthesiol.  1998 Mar;34(3):510-513. 10.4097/kjae.1998.34.3.510.

Effect of Water Ingestion before Elective Surgery on Gastric Volume and pH in Adults

• Cho JK
• Jung JI
• Lee KC
• Kang PS
• Woo NS
• Lee YC

• KMID: 2032411
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1998.34.3.510

Abstract

BACKGROUND
To decrease the risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents, patients are routinely asked not to eat or drink anything for at least 6 to 8 hours before surgery. We studied to evaluate whether the volume and pH of gastric fluid immediately after induction of anesthesia is correlated with water ingestion.
METHODS
Fifty patients, scheduled for elective surgery, were randomly divided into two groups. Control group(n=25) were fasted overnight and received no water. Experimental group(n=25) were fasted overnight and received 150 ml water approximately 2 hours before the induction of anesthesia. Gastric fluid was obtained via multiorifice gastric tube with the patient in three different positions. The volume of gastric fluid was recorded and its pH was measured.
RESULTS
The gastric volumes were no differences between the two groups. The gastric pH values were significant differences. The incidence of patients with the high risk factors of gastric volume greater than 25 ml and pH less than 2.5 was decreased in experimental group.
CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that surgical patients could be permitted to ingest 150 ml water approximately 2 hours before the induction of anesthesia.

Keyword

Aspiration, lung: water; Risk: pH; volume

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Anesthesia
Eating*
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration*
Incidence
Risk Factors
Water*
Water