title: Preoperative starvation in elective general surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Study preoperative fasting times of adult elective surgical patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting times for food and clear fluids, and the information used by patients to decide when to start fasting were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 200 patients, median fasting times were 2-4 times the guideline recommendations. Most patients used hospital written instructions but many started fasting substantially earlier than the instructions stipulated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved communication with patients could improve fasting times.
authors.affiliation: FY2, Whittington Hospital, London.
authors.forename: Saleem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khoyratty
authors.forename: Bhavik N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Modi
authors.forename: Duraisamy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ravichandran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005215:Fasting; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013217:Starvation; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom