Attitudes to oral feeding following Caesarean section

Abstract

In order to evaluate postoperative nutrition in women who have undergone Caesarean section, we conducted a national survey. Questionnaires were sent to 100 randomly selected obstetric units in the UK, and were completed and returned by senior midwives. We found that that only 21.5% of units had a departmental policy concerning feeding after Caesarean section. Midwives decided when women could eat and drink in the majority of obstetric units (78.5%), often without the help of guidelines. The period of postoperative starvation was found to vary greatly, from < 1 h in some units to > 24 h in others. We suggest that all obstetric units should produce guidelines in order to rationalise postoperative feeding for women following Caesarean section.

Early versus delayed oral feeding for patients after cesarean

“…Among these anesthetics, opioid analgesics play an important part in causing postoperative ileus. Opioids could inhibit gastric emptying, increase nonpropulsive contractility of the small bowel, and delay colonic motility [39]. However, gastric emptying might return to normal if more than 4–5 hours have elapsed since the last injection [40].…”

Audit of an early feeding program after Cesarean delivery: Patient wellbeing is increased

“…Finally, although the previously mentioned studies [1][2][3][4][5] have shown the feasibility of early oral feeding, many units still remain reluctant to modify their own practice. 6 The goals of the present study performed using the model of a quality-assurance program, were at least two-fold: 1) to determine the extent of patients' hunger and thirst before and after implementation of an early feeding and drinking program; 2) to evaluate the hospital personnel's compliance with changes in its traditional methods of postoperative care.…”

Paradigmas e evidências da nutrição peri-operatória

“…Na verdade, não existem protocolos que orientem sobre a liberação da dieta na maioria dos centros. Por exemplo, no Reino Unido, 78,5% das unidades obstétricas questionadas informaram que a decisão de alimentar as pacientes após a realização de cesarianas é feita sem nenhuma rotina estabelecida 43 . A etiologia do íleo pós-operatório é multi-fatorial.…”

“…Recentemente, foi relatada que a simples mastigação de bala de goma no pós-operatório de pacientes submetidos a colectomia vídeoendoscópica foi capaz de reduzir o íleo pós-operatório 43 . O grupo estimulado a mastigar as balas de goma três vezes ao dia, desde o primeiro dia pós-operatório, apresentou eliminação de flatos em média no segundo dia versus no terceiro dia, no grupo controle.…”