GASTRIC-EMPTYING IN PATIENTS THE DAY AFTER CARDIAC-SURGERY

Fourteen adults underwent cardiac surgery with a standard anaesthetic technique. Prior to surgery and the day after surgery, gastric emptyin g was determined using the paracetamol absorption technique. Results f rom 13 patients were available for analysis. The mean time to reach th e maximum plasma concentration was 14.1 min (SEM 2.1)pr e-operatively and 225.4 min (SEM 42.3) postoperatively. The mean maximum concentrati on was 23.7 mg.1(-1) (SEM 1.9) pre-operatively and 5.1 mg.1(-1) (SEM 0 .8) postoperatively. The area under the curve (0-60 min) was 892 mg mi n.1(-1) (SEM 57) pre-operatively and 131 mg min.1(-1) (SEM 25)postoper atively. The differences between pre- and postoperative values weve hi ghly significant for all these three measurements. We conclude that ga stric emptying is markedly delayed the day after elective cardiac surg ery.