Effect of preoperative oral administration of carbohydrate in children undergoing gastroscopy

Objective To evaluate the effect of preoperative oral administration of carbohydrate in children undergoing gastroscopy.

Methods A total of 80 children who underwent gastroscopy from June 2019 to June 2021 were selected as study objects. The children were divided into carbohydrate group (group C) and routine fasting and water prohibition group (group S) according to the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. There were two children in each group who withdrew from the study before surgery, and 76 children were finally included, with 38 in each group. The children in the group C were prohibited for solid food 6 h before operation, and orally took carbohydrate 5 mL/kg 2 h before operation, with the total amount ≤300 mL. Children in the group S were prohibited for solid food 6 h before operation, and the total amount of water was orally taken for less than 300 mL (5 mL/kg). Nausea, vomiting, chills, dizziness and other adverse reactions were recorded within 24 hours after operation. After the start of gastroscopy, gastric contents were extracted, and the amount of gastric contents and pH value of gastric contents were measured.

Results The incidence of preoperative starvation in the group C was lower than that in the group S, and the amount of contents was less than that in the group S, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in pH value of gastric contents between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the proportions of children with stomach contents ≤0.5 mL/kg, >0.5 to 1.0 mL/kg, and >1.0 to 1.5 mL/kg between the two groups (P>0.05). The proportion of children with gastric contents >1.5 mL/kg in the group C was 5.3%, which was lower than 21.1% in the group S, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The incidence rates of postoperative nausea and chills in the group C were 26.3% and 21.1%, respectively, which were lower than 50.0% and 44.7% in the group S (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Preoperative oral administration of carbohydrate can significantly improve the symptoms of thirst and hunger, promote gastric emptying, and reduce the incidence of postoperative nausea and shivering.