Related Experiment Videos
Early oral intake after arthroscopic surgery under spinal anesthesia
T Hoshi1, S Yamashita, M Tanaka
1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Tsukuba Hospital, 2-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-0005, Japan.
Journal of Anesthesia
|October 18, 2003
Summary
Early oral feeding (EOF) after non-gastrointestinal surgery under spinal anesthesia can accelerate bowel function recovery. Patients receiving EOF experienced significantly faster first defecation compared to those with nil per os (NPO).
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Surgical Recovery
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Postoperative ileus is a common concern after surgery.
- Traditional nil per os (NPO) protocols aim to prevent complications but may delay recovery.
- Spinal anesthesia is frequently used for lower extremity surgeries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the tolerability of early oral feeding (EOF) after spinal anesthesia.
- To evaluate the impact of EOF on the recovery of bowel function.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 31 healthy adults undergoing knee arthroscopy.
- Patients were assigned to either an EOF group or an NPO group.
- Spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric tetracaine was administered to all participants.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in nausea or appetite was observed between groups.
- The median time to first defecation was significantly shorter in the EOF group (20.6 hours) compared to the NPO group (33.5 hours).
- No anesthesia, surgery, or EOF-related complications were reported.
Conclusions:
- Restricting oral intake after non-gastrointestinal surgery under spinal anesthesia may be unnecessary.
- Early oral feeding appears to facilitate the recovery of bowel function.
- EOF is a safe and potentially beneficial strategy for postoperative recovery.