Pre-operative oral carbohydrate decreases postoperative insulin resistance, speeds gastrointestinal functional recovery and reduces hospital stay, most significantly after major surgery.

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• Jonas Nygren, Anders Thorell, and Olle Ljungqvist.
• aDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Danderyds Hospital, Karolinska Institutet bDepartment of Surgery, Ersta Hospital, Stockholm cDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
• Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2015 Jun 1;28(3):364-9.

Purpose Of ReviewManagement of the postoperative response to surgical stress is an important issue in major surgery. Avoiding preoperative fasting using preoperative oral carbohydrates (POC) has been suggested as a measure to prevent and reduce the extent to which such derangements occur. This review summarizes the current evidence and rationale for this treatment.Recent FindingsA recent review from the Cochrane Collaboration reports enhanced gastrointestinal recovery and shorter hospital stay with the use of POC with no effect on postoperative complication rates. Multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrate improved postoperative metabolic response after POC administration, including reduced insulin resistance, protein sparing, improved muscle function and preserved immune response. Cohort studies in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery have shown that the use of POC as part of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol is a significant predictor for improved clinical outcomes.SummaryAvoiding preoperative fasting with POC is associated with attenuated postoperative insulin resistance, improved metabolic response, enhanced perioperative well-being, and better clinical outcomes. The impact is greatest for patients undergoing major surgeries.

This article appears in the collection: Preoperative.

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