68. Current status of prolonged pre-endoscopic fasting in children undergoing gastroduodenoscopy at Thai Binh Pediatric Hospital
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aimed to describe the status of pre-endoscopic fasting in children undergoing gastroduodenoscopy with anesthesia at Thai Binh Pediatric Hospital and assess the associated discomfort. A cross-sectional descriptive design was applied to a sample of 380 children under 16 years of age from June 2024 to April 2025. Data collected included fasting duration and subjective discomfort assessed using a Likert scale. Results showed that the average fasting time for solid food was 14.9 ± 1.7 hours, and for clear liquids was 11.3 ± 3.9 hours-both significantly exceeding recommended guidelines. About 45.5% of children reported moderate to severe hunger, with children under 7 years old experienced significantly greater discomfort in hunger, dry mouth, and anxiety compared to older children (p < 0.05). Prolonged fasting before endoscopy remains common and causes considerable discomfort, particularly in younger patients. Therefore, adjusting fasting protocols toward greater flexibility and individualization is essential to improve anesthesia safety and patient experience.
Article Details
Keywords
Preoperative fasting, gastroduodenoscopy, pediatric anesthesia
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