title: Is preoperative fasting necessary?
abstract: The effects of fasting and of histamine (H2) antagonists on gastric volume and acidity were studied in 56 baboons undergoing various surgical procedures under general anesthesia and randomly allocated into 4 groups; group A--fasted for 14 hours; group B--given 100-120 ml of water 3 hours before surgery; groups C and D--also given 100-120 ml of water 3 hours before surgery; in addition, the former received cimetidine 10 mg/kg IM and the latter ranitidine 1.5 mg/kg IM 30-40 minutes before anesthesia. There were no significant differences between groups A and B with respect to the gastric volume and pH. Both ranitidine and cimetidine significantly (P < 0.02) reduced gastric volume and increased gastric pH. Thus, prolonged withholding of oral fluids does not reduce the gastric volume or increase gastric pH. H2-antagonists are effective in reducing both gastric residual volume and pH.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Comparative Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Popilskis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Danilo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kohn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D010215:Papio / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014868:Water Deprivation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002927:Cimetidine; D011899:Ranitidine