Impact of a multimodal awareness campaign on preoperative fasting times and postoperative recovery: A prospective...

Application of preoperative fasting rules appears insufficient despite the impact of excessive fasting on patient comfort and morbidity. Primary endpoint of the study was fasting durations before and after a multimodal awareness campaign about fasting rules.

This observational prospective study assessed liquid and solid fasting durations and their impact on recovery before and after a multimodal and multidisciplinary awareness campaign against excessive fasting. Fasting durations and data related to comfort and rehabilitation were collected at the admission to the operating room and on Day 1. Primary endpoint was the comparison of liquid and solid fasting times between the two groups. Secondary endpoints included quality of recovery.

365 patients were included in the study in adult surgical departments, 185 during phase 1 from February to April 2023 and 179 during phase 2 from June to July 2023. Liquid fasting time were reduced in phase 2 with 7.5 [4.5-12.8] hours and 6.3 [3.7-11.3] hours in phase 1 and 2 (p < 0.001). Median solid fasting times were not reduced with 14.3 [12.3-17.0] hours in phase 1 versus 14.3 [12.4-16.5] in phase 2 (p = 0.66). Mean FQoR-15 recovery score was better in phase 2 compared to phase 1 (133 [CI 95 %: 129,6-136,1] vs 123 [CI 95 %: 119,3-125,8] respectively, p < 0.001).

After a multimodal awareness campaign, both median preoperative liquid fasting time and quality of recovery score were improved. However, the median solid fasting time was not reduced, calling for additional measures to further improve patient care.