How Long Should Patients Refrain from Oral Food and Fluid Intake after General Anaesthesia? An Assessment of the Swallowing Reflex of Postoperative Neurosurgical Patients

 

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Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to detect swallowing abnormalities in patients after short-term neurosurgical interventions under general anaesthesia, comparing patients with supratentorial operations with a group undergoing extracranial neurosurgery (nucleotomy).

Methods: 20 patients in each group were examined by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) after general anaesthesia.

Results: No patient demonstrated dysphagia, aspiration, or oxygen desaturation.

Conclusion: In these patient groups, early postoperative feeding was safe. Postoperative food intake can probably be allowed early after general anaesthesia.

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Thomas Kerz, M. D. 

Department of Neurosurgery · Johannes Gutenberg-University Hospital School of Medicine

Langenbeckstrasse 1

55131 Mainz

Germany

Phone: +49-6131-172006

Fax: +49-6131-176634

Email: kerz@mail.uni-mainz.de