How long should patients refrain from oral food and fluid intake after general anaesthesia? An assessment of the swallowing reflex of postoperative neurosurgical patients.

摘要

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to detect swallowing abnormalities in patients after short-term neurosurgical interventions under general anaesthesia, comparing patients with supratentorial operations with a group undergoing extracranial neurosurgery (nucleotomy). METHODS: 20 patients in each group were examined by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) after general anaesthesia. RESULTS: No patient demonstrated dysphagia, aspiration, or oxygen desaturation. CONCLUSION: In these patient groups, early postoperative feeding was safe. Postoperative food intake can probably be allowed early after general anaesthesia.