Assessment of Preoperative Fasting in Surgical Candidates and Its Comparison with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Guidelines in Allameh Bohlool Hospital Operating Room, Gonabad, 2024

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 General Medicine Student, School of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.

2 Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Bohlool Hospital, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.

3 Associate Professor of Nursing Education, School of Nursing, Nursing Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran

10.22038/nnj.2025.89266.1501

Abstract

Background and Aims: Preoperative fasting is a critical component of patient preparation for surgery; however, excessive or inappropriate fasting can lead to significant physiological and psychological complications. This study aimed to evaluate the status of preoperative fasting among surgical candidates and compare it with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) guidelines in the operating room of Allameh Bohlool ‎Hospital in Gonabad during 2024.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 195 surgical candidates selected through stratified random sampling in the operating room of Allameh Bohlool Hospital in 2024. Data were collected using a structured checklist and analyzed with SPSS version 22, employing one-sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA with a significance level set at p<0.05.
Results: The mean (±SD) age of participants was 39.97 ± 21.05 years, with a slight male predominance (51.3%). The mean (±SD) fasting durations for clear liquids, light meals, and fatty/fried foods were 11.53 ± 3.46, 16.40 ± 8.07, and 16.05 ± 6.80 hours, respectively. All were significantly longer than the durations recommended by ASA guidelines (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that preoperative fasting durations among most patients substantially exceed the recommendations of the ASA guidelines. These results highlight the need to revise current fasting protocols and implement retraining programs for surgical and anesthesia teams.

Keywords

References

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Navid No
Volume 28, Issue 94
September 2025
Pages 38-50

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