Improving Patient Comfort by Reducing Fasting Times Before Elective Surgeries with Anesthesia Care

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to improve preoperative fasting practices for patients undergoing elective procedures that require anesthesiology care. It addresses the issue that patients often fast from clear liquids much longer than recommended international guidelines, which may lead to discomfort and complications like dehydration, low blood sugar, nausea, vomiting, and delirium, especially in older or frail patients. The project follows a quality improvement framework to evaluate and reduce prolonged fasting times. The project introduces a new local procedure allowing patients to drink clear liquids until they are called to the operating room, supported by staff training, educational materials, and fasting instruction cards. It compares fasting times and selected perioperative outcomes before and after implementing this new drink until called guideline. Participants will have their fasting times recorded and analyzed at anesthesia induction. Researchers will also assess patient satisfaction, perioperative complications, length of stay in recovery and hospital, and occurrences of delirium and other health issues during hospitalization. The study involves ongoing staff education and monitoring to improve and reinforce the updated fasting guidance throughout the project period.

Quality Improvement Project to Reduce Preoperative Fasting Times Before Elective Procedures