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Is fasting necessary before prilocaine Bier's block?
I O'Sullivan1, S Brooks, J Maryosh
1Kent and Canterbury Hospital, United Kingdom.
Journal of Accident & Emergency Medicine
|March 1, 1996
Summary
Fasting is not required before intravenous regional anesthesia (Bier's block). This study found similar complication rates in fasted and unfasted patients, suggesting current fasting practices should be reconsidered for this procedure.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Surgical Procedures
Background:
- Intravenous regional anesthesia, commonly known as Bier's block, is a widely used anesthetic technique.
- Current practices often include pre-procedure fasting, though its necessity for Bier's block is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the necessity of pre-procedure fasting for patients undergoing intravenous regional anesthesia (Bier's block).
- To assess the impact of fasting on the safety and complication rates of Bier's block.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study was conducted among Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments in the UK.
- Policies and opinions regarding fasting before Bier's block were collected from 216 A&E consultants.
Main Results:
- Approximately 5000 Bier's block procedures are performed annually in the UK.
- Over one-third of participating units do not routinely fast patients before Bier's block.
- Complication rates were comparable between patients who were fasted and those who were not.
Conclusions:
- Pre-procedure fasting is not a necessary requirement for intravenous regional anesthesia (Bier's block).
- The practice of starving patients before Bier's block should be discontinued to streamline procedures and patient care.