Perioperative fasting and feeding in adults, obstetric, pediatric and bariatric population

Introduction: Clinical practice guidelines provide recommendations for discontinuation of solid food and liquids prior to elective diagnostic or surgical procedures which performed under deep hypnosis or anesthesia (regional or general) and resumption of oral feeding in the post-operative period. To reduce the incidence and severity of aspiration pneumonia and other complications (such as hypotension during induction of anesthesia), to prevent delays or cancellations of surgical procedures and also to obtain better patient outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students in the sixth year in private and public Syrian universities through the use of a questionnaire that asked about the students' knowledge of the American Association guidelines for fasting periods for solids and liquids in adults and children patients before surgery and their knowledge of the importance of fasting before surgery and their knowledge of the protocol for enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Some statistical tests were performed and p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 215 students studied, 184 are studying in private universities and 26 in public universities, 106 (50.2%) had a good level of knowledge about the importance of fasting and the American Association's guidelines for fasting periods. As for the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol, 111 (51.6%) had good knowledge. Subjects with good knowledge of the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol had good knowledge of the importance and duration of preoperative fasting periods 1.7 times more than subjects with poor knowledge of the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol. Conclusion: This research focuses on the knowledge of sixth year medical students, who will start the field of practice, about the periods of fasting before surgery and its importance and the protocol of the enhanced recovery after surgery because of its importance in managing patients surgically, especially for surgeons, anesthesiologists and internal medicine specialists.