Reducing Fasting Time in Children for Sedation

Comparison of Gastric Ultrasound for Reduction of Fasting Time in Children for Sedation

Patients are asked to be fasted for certain period of time before sedation to reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration. However, fasting can be harmful, especially in children who has smaller reserves of energy and fluids compared to the adults. Prolonged fasting may increase nausea, vomiting, dehydration, and hypoglycemia. Therefore, it is important to minimize prolonged fasting time in pediatric patients.

This study is aimed to investigate the safety of minimal fasting time (2 hours) compared to the standard fasting time (4 hours) with gastric ultrasound.

Inclusion Criteria:

• pediatric patients aged under 36 months
• scheduled for elective cardiac echocardiography

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with disease that delay gastric emptying
• patients taking medication that delay gastric emptying
• structural deformities, or abnormalities that interrupt gastric ultrasound
• refuse to participate in the study
• sedation is failed or impossible