Les règles du jeûne préopératoire

The risk of gastric content inhalation is related to the residual gastric volume, altered upper airway protection and gastric reflux. Gastric content inhalation may occur even after prolonged fasting. Application of guidelines to prevent gastric content inhalation is critical. Prolonged fasting decreases patient's comfort, volemia in newborns and glucose store leading to insulin lower efficacy correlated to a prolongation of the duration of hospital stay. In children more than 1 year-old, adults and pregnant women who are not parturients, the approach of fasting rules can be more liberal. Anesthesia can be performed 2 hours after liquid intake, 6 hours after a light meal except if patients suffer from gastroparesia whatever the cause (pain, emergency, diabetes). In case of pregnancy, obesity, gastric reflux, the risk of inhalation is increased and lead to rapid sequence intubation but a liberal approach of fasting is still possible.