Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Sugarless gum chewing before surgery does not increase gastric fluid volume or acidity.
Patients occasionally arrive in the operating suite chewing gum despite instructions to avoid oral intake for a specific number of hours before surgery. Some anaesthetists are hesitant to proceed with these patients fearing an increase in gastric volume and acidity. This study was undertaken to determine if gum chewing increased gastric volume and acidity. ⋯ There was no difference between groups in terms of gastric volume or pH. In addition, there was no relationship between gastric content and the length of time from gum discard to induction or the length of time gum was chewed. In conclusion, the data suggest that induction of anaesthesia is safe and surgery does not need to be delayed if a patient arrives in the OR chewing sugarless gum.