THE EFFECT OF PREOPERATIVE ORAL FLUIDS ON MORBIDITY FOLLOWING ANESTHESIA FOR MINOR SURGERY

Postoperative morbidity and serum osmolality were studied in 46 patien ts who were encouraged to drink water until 3 h pre-operatively and 49 receiving the normal fasting regimen prior to minor surgery. There wa s significantly less thirst in the postoperative period in those patie nts allowed to drink and subjectively better recovery than after previ ous anaesthesia. There was no morbidity from ingestion of up to 1 l of water 2.5 pre-operatively. Although there was only a moderate improve ment in postoperative recovery we feel that allowing patients to drink water pre-operatively improves patient comfort, especially since pati ents may have to fast for much longer than guidelines recommend, simpl y because of the traditional organisation of operating lists.