Ann Clin Nutr Metab.  2023 Apr;15(1):15-21. 10.15747/ACNM.2023.15.1.15.

Preoperative consumption of a carbohydrate drink before laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and beneficial in Korea: a non-randomized controlled study

• Choi YJ
• Byun Y
• Yang SM
• Lee HJ
• Kim H

• KMID: 2541590
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15747/ACNM.2023.15.1.15

Abstract

Purpose
Overnight fasting prior to elective surgery is the traditional way of avoiding the risk of aspiration during anesthesia induction. However, it causes mental and metabolic stress to patients. Therefore, we investigated the safety and potential benefits of the preoperative consumption of a carbohydrate drink.
Methods
This was a single-center prospective, nonrandomized study with questionnaire. Patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included. There was no restriction on age, underlying diseases, and biliary drainage prior to surgery. They were preoperatively given either a carbohydrate drink or were instructed to fast from midnight before surgery. Perioperative emotional status was measured using the visual analog scale.
Results
The 132 patients completed the questionnaire, with 68 receiving the carbohydrate drink and 64 following nil per oral after-midnight instruction. There were no postoperative complications related to preoperative drink consumption or the cholecystectomy procedure itself in both groups. There were no significant differences in all the assessed feelings postoperatively except that preoperative discomforts, such as hunger and thirst, were significantly more alleviated in the group of preoperative consumption of a carbohydrate drink.
Conclusion
Preoperative consumption of a carbohydrate drink was found to be safe and effective in alleviating preoperative discomfort in elective surgery patients, including older patients and those with underlying comorbidities, who were at greater risk for aspiration. Therefore, we recommend considering preoperative drink consumption as an alternative to traditional overnight fasting in elective surgery patients.

Keyword

Carbohydrates; Cholecystectomy; laparoscopic; Fasting; Hunger; Postoperative nausea and vomiting