Preoperative unrestricted clear fluid and association with postoperative nausea and vomiting: Review article

Abstract

Background: One of the most distressing side effects of general anaesthesia is postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Recovery room and hospital stay and overall health care costs can be increased by PONV. Reduced frequency of PONV is still significant even after the introduction of shorter surgical procedures, shorter acting anesthesias and newer anti-emetic medicines; many anti-emetic treatments are expensive and do not totally eliminate PONV with some adverse effects; yet. As a precaution against regurgitation and aspiration of stomach contents, pre-operative fasting reduces stomach volume and acidity. The current standards in Europe, on the other hand, advocate the consumption of oral clear fluids up to two hours prior to the onset of general anaesthetic induction. In order to limit the danger of regurgitation and aspiration, patients are advised to fast prior to general anaesthesia.
Objective: Review of free oral consumption of clear fluids before the anaesthesia and their effects on nausea and vomiting beyond surgery.
Methods: The databases were searched for articles published in English in 4 data bases [PubMed – Medline - Google scholar- science direct] and Boolean operators (and, or, not) had been used such as [Preoperative Clear Fluid, Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting] and in peer-reviewed articles between 2001 and 2021.
Conclusion: The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was lowered when patients drank freely clear fluids prior to the scheduled induction of day case anaesthesia.