ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the safety and feasibility of shorterning fasting time after gastros-copy in patients with hepato-biliary disease.Methods A total of 300 inpatient cases of hepato-biliary disea-ses who underwent gastroscopy were divided into the treatment group (n =150)and the control group (n =150)using randomized block design.Both groups included three blocks:patients with esophageal and /or gastric varices (n =50),patients undergoing biopsy (n =50)and non-esophageal gastric varices patients without biopsy (n =50)according to the results of gastroscopy.Patients of both groups were asked to eat 2 hours later and drink 30 minutes later after gastroscopy respectively.The symptoms of thirst,hunger,hypo-glycemia,choking cough after eating,aspiration,nausea and vomiting,hematemesis and melena were recor-ded and compared between the two groups.Results There were no significant differences in the incidences between the two groups in thirst and hunger.However the incidence of hypoglycemia was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group [(2.0%(3 /150)VS 9.3%(14 /150),P =0.006].And there were also no significant differences in the incidences of choking cough,aspiration,nausea and vomiting 5-8 hours after the procedure.Neither hematemesis nor melena was found in either groups 24 hours after the procedure.Conclusion Shortening the fasting time after gastroscopy in patients with hepato-biliary diseases is safe and feasible.