Effects of preoperative oral carbohydrate administration on patient well-being and satisfaction in thyroid surgery

Although the positive effects of preoperative oral carbohydrate administration on clinical outcomes following major surgery have been reported continuously, there are few investigations of them in minor surgical patients. The present study was designed to examine the effects of preoperative oral carbohydrate administration on patient well-being and satisfaction in patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

Fifty adults aged 20-65 years and scheduled for elective thyroidectomy in first schedule in the morning were allocated to one of two groups. The Control group (n = 25) was requested to obey traditional preoperative fasting after midnight prior to the day of surgery. The Carbohydrate group (n = 25) also fasted overnight but drank 400 ml of carbohydrate-rich drink 2 hours before induction of anesthesia. Patient well-being (thirst, hunger, mouth dryness, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, anxiety and sleep quality) and satisfaction were assessed just before the operating room admission (preoperative) and 6 hours following surgery (postoperative). Other secondary outcomes including oral Schirmer's test and plasma glucose concentrations were also evaluated.

The two groups were homogenous in patient characteristics. Seven parameters representing patient well-being evaluated on NRS (0-10) and patient satisfaction scored on a 5-point scale were not statistically different between the two groups preoperatively and postoperatively. There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes.

Preoperative oral carbohydrate administration does not appear to improve patient well-being and satisfaction compared with midnight fasting in patients undergoing thyroidectomy in first schedule in the morning.