Effect of oral rehydration therapy before general anesthesia on satisfaction, stress response, and hemodynamics in surgical patients for laparoscopic colectomy

Background: The recommended intake of clear liquids until 2 hours before surgery is reportedly safe and effective. We investigated whether oral rehydration therapy before surgery had improved satisfaction, stress response, and hemodynamics in patients during perioperative period. Methods: Patients scheduled to undergo laparoscopic colectomy were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups. The oral rehydration therapy (ORT) group (29 cases) was allowed to drink clear liquids until 2 hours before anesthesia induction and the control group (29 cases) fasted from 21: 00 the night before surgery. All patients entered the operating room at 8: 40. Patient satisfaction was examined after admission to the operating room The volume and pH of gastric fluid were measured after anesthetic induction. The serum concentrations of Cortisol and catecholamine were measured as stress response indicators after anesthetic induction and at the completion of surgery. Intraoperative hemodynamics was also recorded. Results: There were no differences in patient satisfaction, stress response, and hemodynamics between the 2 groups. Intraoperative urine volume was significantly larger in the ORT group. Vomiting and aspiration were not observed in any patient Conclusions: Oral rehydration therapy until 2 hours before surgery seemed safe but did not improve satisfaction, stress response, and hemodynamics in perioperative patienta.