title: Gastric emptying in the postpartum period.
abstract: We measured gastric emptying, using the technique of paracetamol absorption, in eight women on their first and third postpartum day. Gastric emptying was rapid and there was no difference between the first and third day in the time to peak plasma concentration of paracetamol. Six women returned after six weeks for a further study. Gastric emptying was still rapid but the metabolism of paracetamol appeared to be slower than that found during the immediate postpartum period. These findings suggest that fluid fasting guidelines in patients more than one day postpartum need not be different from those in non-pregnant patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gin
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Critchley
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000082:Acetaminophen; C037386:acetaminophen glucuronide