Parents and patients' compliance to revised preoperative fasting guidelines in Benin, Nigeria

摘要

Sir-Preoperative fasting in children has been liberalized worldwide based on reports of improved safety (1-3), preoperative compliance (4) and avoidance of hypoglycemia(5) and dehydration (2). Anecdotal reports indicated that the use of revised preoperative fasting guidelines of a short fast in pediatric patients is more theoretical than practical in our health care service delivery in our population of pediatric surgical patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin, Nigeria. We report preliminary data from January to May 2006, on compliance to these guidelines and factors that influence compliance.After relevant ethical approval, a departmental seminar for surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses educated them on revised preoperative fasting guidelines in children, andthey in turn educated ASA 1 and 2 patients and their parents at the surgical out-patient clinics as appropriate. The revised preoperative fasting guidelines introduced included a preoperative fast of 2 h after clear fluids and 4 h after breast milk for children less than 6 months of age. Children older than 6 months of age observed a fast of 2 h after clear fluids and 6-8 h after solids which included formula, nonformula milk and a light meal of watery pap. They also observed a 4-hfast after breast milk if they were breast-fed.