Patients scheduled for non-emergency medical procedures are usually required to refrain from eating or drinking before their procedure. This is a common practice to avoid the risk of nausea, vomiting or aspiration from the anesthesia used during medical intervention. A recent study published in the American Journal of Critical Care has shown that fasting may not be necessary for every patient undergoing cardiac catheterization.
The single-center study looked at 197 adult patients undergoing elective cardiac catheterization with conscious sedation. Through random selection, 100 patients were allowed to eat solid food low in sodium, cholesterol, and acidity before the procedure. 97 patients followed the hospital’s standard practice of not allowing any oral intake aside from water needed for medications from midnight before the procedure.
None of the monitored patients in either group experienced any post-procedure complications like hypoglycemia, aspiration, or intubation. Other factors like gastrointestinal issues, fatigue and antiplatelet loading dose were also similar between the two groups.
However, the non-fasting group had a significantly higher patient satisfaction with lower thirst and hunger levels.
Other studies have also demonstrated similar results suggesting that the long-ingrained policy of prolonged fasting before a procedure may be unnecessary. Allowing patients to eat did not result in adverse events but rather improved patient comfort and satisfaction.
Hopefully, more evidence from patient-centric research like this can result to improved practices and guidelines, not only in cardiac catheterization but also across different medical fields.
References:
1. Carri Woods, Michelle Wood, Angela Boylan, Mindy E. Flanagan, Jan Powers; Fasting Versus a Heart-Healthy Diet Before Cardiac Catheterization: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Crit Care 1 January 2024; 33 (1): 29–33. doi: https://doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2024115
The Technowood SSS guidewire was designed to provide additional support and stability for positioning intravascular devices such as sheaths and catheters during cardiac catheterization. Aside from traditional guidewire types like straight, angle and J shape, the SSS Guidewire comes in additional shapes like the BK, BK1.5M and AM which are suitable for transradial access procedures.
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