Postoperative fasting time in surgical patients with gastric cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Prolonged postoperative fasting potentiates the organic response to trauma and is related to clinical complications. Objective: To describe the postoperative fasting time in surgical patients with gastric cancer. Methods: Observational, longitudinal, prospective, descriptive study with adult and elderly patients, of both sexes, with a proven diagnosis of gastric cancer and undergoing total or subtotal gastrectomy from March 2020 to October 2021, at a university hospital in Belém -SHOVEL. The early introduction of food was considered within 24 hours after surgery, according to the ACERTO Project Guideline (Acceleration of Postoperative Total Recovery) 2017. For data tabulation, Microsoft Excel® version 2016 was used. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee under opinion 4,540,906. Results: Thirty-two patients were evaluated, the majority (53.1%) being male and elderly (68.8%), with a mean age of 60.5 ± 12.8 years. Of this total, 53.1% underwent total gastrectomy and 46.9% subtotal gastrectomy. The median postoperative fasting time was 2.0 ± 0.7 days, with a maximum of 6 days. Only 15.6% of the sample started the diet early in the postoperative period. Conclusion: Given the inadequacy of fasting time according to the guideline, it is recommended that an abbreviation protocol be implemented.