Residual Gastric Volume After the Ingestion of a Beverage Containing Carbohydrates Plus Whey Protein

The use of carbohydrate-rich beverage in the immediate preoperative period is not only safe, but may also reduce the catabolic stress response, nausea, vomiting, and thus enhance postoperative recovery.The addition of protein may increase the benefits but there are few studies on this matter. Several studies have also shown the nutritional qualities of soluble whey proteins. Whey protein contains a high level of essential amino acids especially branched-chain amino acids. The digestibility and gastric emptying is accelerated when compared to casein. We thought that gastroscopy would be an excellent model to test the gastric emptying of such drinks before testing it for elective operations. Thus, the aim of the study will be to investigate the residual gastric volume (RGV) measured during the gastroscopy with abbreviation of fast to 2h with a carbohydrate- whey protein-drink.

Methods A group of adult patients (age ranging from 18 to 72years-old) scheduled to undergoing upper digestive endoscopy for diagnostic purposes due to epigastric burning at Gastroclinica, Cuiabá, Brazil will be eligible for inclusion in this trial. Exclusion criteria will be: American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score above II, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, renal or hepatic failure, gastroesophageal reflux, morbid obesity (BMI above 40 kg/m2,acute cholecystitis, use of corticosteroids up to 6 months previously, use of any prokinetic drug up to 6 weeks, and any noncompliance or violation on the assigned protocol of preoperative fasting. The local ethics committee approved the study, and all patients will authorize his/her inclusion in the study by written informed consent.

Randomization A staff not involved with the study will proceed with the randomization process. A computer program will generate random numbers to assign patients to the two groups. Patients will be randomized to receive either conventional preoperative fasting of 8 hours (fasted group, n=15) or will receive instruction to 2 hours fast (study group, n=15). Patients belonging to study group will fast for solids for 8h and will drink 200mL of a beverage containing maltodextrine in addition to whey protein (Fresubin Jucy, Fresenius Kabi, Brazil) 2 hours before the initiation of sedation with propofol for the endoscopic exam.

Fasting protocol All patients will receive both oral and written information about the protocol at the outpatient clinic. Endoscopies will be scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM. The evening before operation patients will be free to ingest solid food until 11:00 PM. The patients belonging to the abbreviation of fasting will receive written instructions to ingest the above beverage at 6:00 AM (200 mL), and be at the Gastroclinica unit at 7:00 AM.

Endoscopy protocol Endoscopy will be performed by a certified gastroenterologist staff as routine. Special attention will be done for RGV. The finding of any residual gastric contents will mean that the content will be aspirate and measured. The RGV measured in mL will be the main outcome measure of the study.

Outcome variable and statistical analysis The main endpoint of the study was the RGV. Comparison of RGV between the two groups will be done by either Student t test or Mann-Whitney test. A 5% will be established as significant level.