How long should patients refrain from oral food and fluid intake after general anaesthesia? An assessment of the swallowing reflex of postoperative neurosurgical patients.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to detect swallowing abnormalities in patients after short-term neurosurgical interventions under general anaesthesia, comparing patients with supratentorial operations with a group undergoing extracranial neurosurgery (nucleotomy).


METHODS
20 patients in each group were examined by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) after general anaesthesia.


RESULTS
No patient demonstrated dysphagia, aspiration, or oxygen desaturation.


CONCLUSIONS
In these patient groups, early postoperative feeding was safe. Postoperative food intake can probably be allowed early after general anaesthesia.
Kerz
T
T
Department of Neurosurgery, Johannes Gutenberg-University Hospital, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany. kerz@mail.uni-mainz.de
Wahlen
B M
BM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000601:surgery; D017586:Diskectomy; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005683:Gagging / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors