Despite the abundance of evidence to the contrary, 6-8 hours of total preoperative fasting is still considered essential by many surgeons and anesthesiologists, based on the strength of old concepts. Patients frequently end up fasting for 12 hours or more because of delays and changes in operating room schedules. The metabolic response to long fasting leads to intensification of the organic response occurring after trauma, which is mainly manifested as increased insulin resistance, an acute-phase response, and loss of lean body mass. In fact, there has not been any evidence indicating that a shorter fast of 2-3 hours, which includes oral clear or carbohydrate (CHO)-rich (12.5% carbohydrates, 50 kcal/100 mL) fluids, results in an increased risk of aspiration, regurgitation, or related morbidity compared with the standard policy of "nil by mouth after midnight." In addition, preoperative treatment with CHO-rich fluids may reduce postoperative discomfort and, for patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, may decrease the duration of postoperative hospitalization. New formulas for preoperative oral fluids containing amino acid or protein such as glutamine or whey protein are also potential candidates for early preoperative treatment and merit further study.

Long-term quality of life after vertical sleeve gastroplasty Long-term quality of life after vertical sleeve gastroplasty Long-term quality of life after vertical sleeve gastroplasty Long-term quality of life after vertical sleeve gastroplasty Long-term quality of life after vertical sleeve gastroplasty We conducted a historical cohort study including patients with morbid obesity the in the Unified Health System (SUS), registered in the database of the General University Hospital, University of Cuiabá. All patients underwent vertical sleeve gastroplasty and were followed for at least one year after the operation. The study variables were: quality of life, weight loss, improvement of hypertension and diabetes, and mortality. Results Results ResultsResults Results: The sample comprised 41 patients, 13 (31.7%) men and 28 (61.3%) women, mean age was 37 years, the average weight was 136.4 kg and mean BMI 50.3 kg/m 2 ; mean follow-up was 19.1 months (12-32). There was a significant reduction in weight (96.7 kg, p < 0.001) and BMI (35.835 kg/m 2 , p < 0.001). The rate of blood pressure decreased from 56% to 31.7%, and diabetes from 14.6% to 4.8% (p < 0.001). Quality of life improved in 92.5% of patients. ConclusionConclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion: There was an improvement in the quality of life in the majority of patients, achieved by means of weight loss and clinical improvement of diabetes and hypertension.

This pilot study suggests that the prescription of the Acerto multimodal protocol for morbidly obese patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy was safe, reduced the rate hypertensive complications, and the length of both ICU and hospital postoperative stay. However, there was no improvement in postoperative insulin resistance or inflammatory acute phase response.

-Context -The surgical treatment for morbid obesity is becoming common in this country. Only a few papers reported the long-term results of the surgical approach for morbid obesity, mainly in terms of quality of life. Objective -To compare mortality rate, weight loss, improvement of both diabetes and hypertension, and quality of life of patients from the public healthcare in Cuiabá, MT, Brazil, who underwent either medical or surgical interventions after a minimum of 2 years. Methods -The population of this study was constituted by morbidly obese patients who initiated treatment between June 2002 and December 2006. The casuistic consisted of 89 patients submitted to medical therapy and 76 patients who underwent surgical procedures. The main variables were weight loss, improvement of hypertension and diabetes, quality of life, and mortality. Results -The overall results showed that weight loss was significant in the two groups (P<0.001); however surgical patients showed a greater loss than the medical group (P = 0.05). The improvement of diabetes and hypertension was significantly greater in the surgical group (P<0.001), in which no cases of diabetes persisted. There was an increase in cases of hypertension among patients receiving medical attention. Mortality occurred in six cases (6.7%) of the medical group and in five cases (6.6%) of the surgical group (P = 0.97). The median grade of the quality of life score obtained by surgical patients (2.37 [range: -2.50 to 3.00]) was significantly greater (P<0.001) when compared to the medical group (1.25 [range: -1.50 to 3.00]). Conclusion -The surgical group presented better results regarding the weight loss, quality of life and improvement of hypertension and diabetes. There was no significant difference in mortality rate between the two groups after a minimum of 2 years.