Preoperative fasting in higher-risk children
These recommendations apply to children of higher risk of regurgitation and aspiration; patients include those with obesity, gastro-oesophageal reflux and diabetes.
General recommendations
- Higher-risk patients should follow the same preoperative fasting regime as healthy children, unless contraindicated. In addition, the anaesthetic team should consider further interventions, as appropriate to the overall clinical situation (such as H2-receptor antagonists, gastrokinetic agents and proton pump inhibitors, together with rapid sequence induction, tracheal intubation and nasogastric tube). [D]
- Children undergoing emergency surgery should be treated as if they have a full stomach. If possible, the child should follow normal fasting guidance to allow for gastric emptying. [D]
For further information about the grade D classification, go to the Grading scheme.