Can one risk fasting the obstetric patient for less than 4 hours?

Abstract

Forty patients scheduled for elective Caesarean section under general anaesthesia were divided into two groups. A control group of 20 patients was treated conventionally, whereas the other group was offered a light breakfast of tea and toast within 4 h of surgery. The volume of gastric contents was significantly greater (P≤0.02) and the pH of the aspirate significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in the study group than in the control group. It is, therefore, not recommended that obstetric patients be fasted for less than 4 h. © 1987 British Journal of Anaesthesia.