The effect of timing and temperature of oral fluids ingested after minor surgery in preschool children on vomiting: a prospective, randomized, clinical study.

BACKGROUND

The time at which children should resume oral intake after surgery is controversial. No information has been published about the relationship between postoperative vomiting and the temperature of the fluid ingested. This study was designed to analyze the effect on postoperative vomiting of the timing and temperature of the fluids ingested in the first oral intake.

METHODS

Two hundred and thirty-seven male children aged 2-7 years, scheduled for correction of inguinal hernia or undescended testis under general anesthesia and were allocated into four groups. The patients in groups C1 and C2 received clear fluids at room temperature or at body temperature, respectively, 2 h after emergence. The patients in groups E1 and E2 received clear fluids at room temperature or at body temperature, respectively, 1 h after emergence. Vomiting was assessed at intervals of 30 min for 6 h postoperatively, starting from 10 min after emergence.

RESULTS

The incidence of vomiting was higher in groups C1 (25%) (P = 0.016) and E1 (26.7%) (P = 0.011) than in groups C2 (6.9%) and E2 (10.2%). The incidence was found to be increased significantly 40 min after oral intake in groups C1 (P = 0.012) and E1 (P = 0.010) compared with earlier measurements in the same groups.

CONCLUSIONS

A first oral intake in children 1 h after anesthesia for minor surgery seems not to increase the incidence of vomiting as long as the ingested fluid is at body temperature.