ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs is one of the most feared complications during anesthesia. Various factors combine to make pediatric patients more susceptible to regurgitation and aspiration than adults. We compared the risk of incidence of acid aspiration in two groups, after examining the pH, and volume of gastric contents in pediatric and adult patients. METHODS: This study was carried out with inpatients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia. Sixty patients from 1 to 13 years old were included in the pediatric age group, and sixty patients from 18 to 60 years old were included in the adult age group. After induction of anesthesia and stabilization of the condition of the patient, gastric contents were collected via a 10 - 18 French Salem Sump tube. Gastric volume and pH were measured. RESULTS: The mean gastric volume in the pediatric group was significantly higher than those in the adult group, whereas, The mean gastric pH in the adult group was significantly higher than those in the pediatric group. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that pediatric patients have a lower gastric pH but a higher gastric volume than adult patients.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Child , Humans , Middle Aged , Anesthesia , Anesthesia, General , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Incidence , Inpatients , LungABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Aspiration of gastric contents is one of the most feared complications during anesthesia. But the routine preoperative order "NPO after midnight" produces thirst, hunger, irritability and other unpleasant experiences in elective inpatients. So, we evaluated the effect of preoperative clear fluid (orange juice) intake, with and without ranitidine, on gastric volume and pH. METHODS: Sixty unpremedicated adult patients, ASA class I or II, scheduled for elective operation were randomly divided into three groups. Group I (n = 20) fasted after midnight. Group II (n = 20) ingested orange juice 150 ml, 2 3 hours before anesthesia. Group III (n = 20) ingested orange juice 150 ml with ranitidine 150 mg, 2 3 hours before anesthesia. As soon as the patients were intubated and stabilized after induction, gastric contents were collected via 16 18 French Salem Sump tube. Gastric volume and pH were measured. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between groups I and II on the hand and group III on the other, in both of gastric volume and pH. But there were no significant differences between groups I and II. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that preoperative clear fluid intake does not affect gastric volume and pH. Moreover, concomitant administration of ranitidine decreases gastric volume and increases pH.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Anesthesia , Citrus sinensis , Hand , Hunger , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Inpatients , Ranitidine , ThirstABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Aspiration of gastric contents is one of the most feared complications during anesthesia. But the routine preoperative order "NPO after midnight" produces thirst, hunger, irritability and other unpleasant experiences in elective inpatients. So, we evaluated the effect of preoperative clear fluid (orange juice) intake, with and without ranitidine, on gastric volume and pH. METHODS: Sixty unpremedicated adult patients, ASA class I or II, scheduled for elective operation were randomly divided into three groups. Group I (n = 20) fasted after midnight. Group II (n = 20) ingested orange juice 150 ml, 2 3 hours before anesthesia. Group III (n = 20) ingested orange juice 150 ml with ranitidine 150 mg, 2 3 hours before anesthesia. As soon as the patients were intubated and stabilized after induction, gastric contents were collected via 16 18 French Salem Sump tube. Gastric volume and pH were measured. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between groups I and II on the hand and group III on the other, in both of gastric volume and pH. But there were no significant differences between groups I and II. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that preoperative clear fluid intake does not affect gastric volume and pH. Moreover, concomitant administration of ranitidine decreases gastric volume and increases pH.