title: Preoperative starvation and plasma glucose concentrations in children undergoing outpatient anaesthesia.
abstract: Thirty-one children aged less than 5 years were studied while attending hospital for anaesthesia as outpatients. Plasma glucose concentrations were measured after the induction of anaesthesia. The mean plasma glucose concentration was 4.70 mmol litre-1. No patients had a plasma glucose concentration less than 2.8 mmol litre-1, despite at least 8 h of starvation. This is unexplained. It is suggested that the conclusions drawn from studies made in young inpatients may not be applicable to young outpatients.
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013217:Starvation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose