Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation
Published on: January 17, 2011
Pediatric fasting times before surgical and radiologic procedures: benchmarking institutional practices against
Catherine Williams1, Pat A Johnson1, Cathie E Guzzetta2
1Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
Insights
Pediatric patients often fast longer than recommended before procedures, with most orders not meeting national guidelines. Strategies are being implemented to shorten fasting times and improve guideline compliance for children undergoing surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Anesthesiology
- Clinical Nutrition
Background:
- Prolonged preoperative fasting in children is linked to adverse outcomes.
- Current fasting practices may not align with established clinical guidelines.
- Ensuring appropriate fasting durations is critical for pediatric patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the duration of preoperative fasting in pediatric patients.
- To assess compliance of NPO (nothing by mouth) orders with national guidelines.
- To identify areas for improvement in pediatric fasting protocols.
Main Methods:
- Prospective measurement of NPO start time and last oral intake time.
- Recording of scheduled, actual, or cancelled procedure times for 219 pediatric patients.
- Comparison of observed fasting durations against national pediatric fasting guidelines.
Main Results:
- Pediatric patients frequently experienced prolonged preoperative fasting periods.
- A significant majority of NPO orders did not comply with national fasting recommendations.
- Variability in fasting times was observed across different procedures and patient groups.
Conclusions:
- Current preoperative fasting practices for pediatric patients are often excessive and non-compliant.
- There is a critical need for adherence to national guidelines to optimize pediatric fasting protocols.
- Implementation of targeted strategies can effectively reduce fasting durations and enhance patient safety.
Abstract:
Prolonged preoperative fasting can be associated with adverse outcomes, particularly in children. Our aims were to assess the time pediatric patients fasted prior to surgical or radiologic procedures and evaluate whether fasting (NPO) orders complied with national guidelines. We measured NPO start time, time of last intake, and time test or surgery was scheduled, took place, or was cancelled in 219 pediatric patients. Findings demonstrate that pediatric patients experienced prolonged fasting before procedures and that the majority of NPO orders were non-compliant with national guidelines. We have developed strategies to reduce fasting times and ensure compliance with recommended national fasting standards.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:24Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation
01:26Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...
01:26Endoscopic Procedures V: ERCP
Patient...