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Is fasting required before cataract surgery? A retrospective review
Suren Sanmugasunderam1, Aniz Khalfan
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. Journal Canadien D'Ophtalmologie
|December 24, 2009
Summary
Fasting before cataract surgery may not be necessary. A review of over 5,000 surgeries found no cases of aspiration pneumonia, suggesting a safe alternative for patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Preoperative fasting guidelines for cataract surgery are often based on general surgical principles.
- The risk of aspiration pneumonia in cataract surgery under local anesthesia with sedation is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the necessity of preoperative fasting for patients undergoing cataract surgery.
- To determine the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in cataract surgery patients who did not fast.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 5,125 cataract surgeries performed between April 2007 and March 2008.
- Utilized anesthesiologist recall, hospital record searches, and surgeon recall to identify cases of aspiration pneumonia.
- Included only patients who had cataract surgery alone, excluding those with combined procedures.
Main Results:
- No cases of aspiration pneumonia were identified in 5,125 cataract surgeries.
- The study specifically examined surgeries performed under topical or infiltration anesthesia with intravenous sedation.
Conclusions:
- Preoperative fasting may not be required for cataract surgery performed under local anesthesia with sedation.
- This finding supports potentially revising fasting protocols for cataract surgery to improve patient comfort and reduce unnecessary restrictions.
