Faculty Collaboration Database

The influence of preoperative carbohydrate loading on postoperative outcomes in bariatric surgery patients: a randomized, controlled trial. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2021 Aug;17(8):1480-1488

Date

05/22/2021

Pubmed ID

34016554

DOI

10.1016/j.soard.2021.04.014

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85106298217 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   19 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Preoperative carbohydrate loading is a component of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, but there is limited literature in bariatric surgery patients.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to characterize the impact of preoperative carbohydrate loading on postoperative bariatric surgery outcomes.

SETTING: University Hospital.

METHODS: Patients undergoing a primary minimally invasive Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) between 2018 and 2020 were randomized to standard management or intervention. Standard management patients were nothing by mouth (NPO) after midnight prior to surgery. Intervention patients consumed 2 carbohydrate drinks: 1 the night before and another 3 hours prior to surgery. Primary outcomes analyzed included postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), length of stay, and overall complications.

RESULTS: In total, 134 patients were analyzed: 64 intervention (47.8%) and 70 (52.2%) standard. In the end, 7% and 15% of patients were lost to follow-up at 6-weeks and 3-months, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in length of stay (2.0 ± 1.2 vs 2.1 ± .9 d; P = .65) or postoperative outcomes between the 2 groups. There were no episodes of aspiration among the intervention group. Among RYGB patients, intervention patients had a shorter duration of nausea compared with standard patients. There was no significant difference in glycemic control among patients with and without diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative carbohydrate drinks can be administered to bariatric surgery patients without significant risks. Carbohydrate loading preoperatively can decrease the duration of PONV in RYGB patients. Carbohydrate drinks can be safely included in bariatric ERAS protocols for patients with and without diabetes, although the benefits remain unknown.

Author List

Suh S, Hetzel E, Alter-Troilo K, Lak K, Gould JC, Kindel TL, Higgins RM

Authors

Jon Gould MD Chief, Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Rana Higgins MD Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Tammy Lyn Kindel MD, PhD Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Bariatric Surgery
Diet, Carbohydrate Loading
Gastrectomy
Gastric Bypass
Humans
Obesity, Morbid
Retrospective Studies
Treatment Outcome