No Link Found for Preprocedural Fasting and Witnessed Pulmonary Aspiration

Follow Drugslib on

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on July 2, 2025.

via HealthDay

WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2025 -- For patients undergoing surgical procedures, there is no association between liberal preprocedural fasting policies and witnessed aspiration, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the August issue of Surgery.

Stephanie Lam, D.O., from the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles, and colleagues reviewed randomized clinical trials comparing outcomes from preprocedural fasting regimens and observational studies of witnessed aspiration events. Clinical aspiration was the main primary outcome. Seventeen studies were included in the analyses, nine of which reported outcomes for aspiration events.

The researchers found that the various preprocedural fasting regimens did not affect clinical aspiration, with an odds ratio for aspiration events of 1.17 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.32 to 4.23). Aspiration occurred rarely (four of 801 patients in experimental groups and seven of 990 patients in control groups [incidence, 0.50 and 0.71 percent, respectively]). There was little likelihood of finding a significant effect of new fasting regimens on aspiration. The surrogate outcomes of gastric volume and/or pH for aspiration were not associated with human anesthesia-related aspiration.

"Fasting for long periods of time is extremely uncomfortable and patients really don't like to do it," senior author Edward H. Livingston, M.D., also from the UCLA School of Medicine, said in a statement. "Our research suggests that long periods of fasting may not be necessary."

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2025-07-03 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords