Gastric pH and volume after oral fluids in the postpartum patient
Lam, K.K.; So, H.Y.; Gin, T.
Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia 40(3): 218-221
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0832-610X PMID: 8467543 DOI: 10.1007/bf03037033Document Number: 333469
Anesthetists at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Shatin, New Territories of Hong Kong compared data on 100 women who underwent tubal ligation by minilaparotomy up to 5 days postpartum with data on 50 nonpregnant women who underwent tubal ligation by laparoscopy. 50 postpartum women swallowed 50 ml water 2-3 hours before surgery. 50 other postpartum women and 50 nonpregnant women consumed nothing from midnight. They wanted to examine the relationship between preoperative oral fluids and gastric pH and volume in postpartum patients between 1 and 5 days after delivery. After induction of anesthesia, the physicians used a 16-French gauge Salem sump tube to aspirate the gastric contents. They then measured the volume and pH. The fasting time before anesthesia (propofol, fentanyl, and atracurium) was the same in all groups (11.5-12 hours). Gastric pH and volume did not increase in the postpartum water group. Gastric pH and volume were similar in all 3 groups (1.18-1.27 and 22-25.5 ml, respectively). 60% of women undergoing laparoscopy and 45% of the postpartum women had a gastric pH less than 2.5 and a volume greater than 0.4 ml x kg-1. Neither gastric pH nor volume were related to fasting time or the postpartum interval (57-60.5 hours). The postpartum women who received preoperative oral fluids experienced thirst less often than did those who fasted (p .01). Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that women at more than 1 day postpartum can safely ingest water 2-3 hours preoperatively.
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