Safety and Feasibility of Early Oral Hydration in the Postanesthesia Care Unit After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Prospective, Randomized, and Controlled Study.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and feasibility of early oral hydration (EOH) in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

METHODS

Patients were randomly assigned to the EOH group or the conventional oral hydration (COH) group. Outcomes were the incidence of nausea and vomiting, thirst scale, incidence of oropharyngeal discomfort, and patient satisfaction.

FINDINGS: Compared with the COH group, the EOH group had lower incidence of nausea before and after the first drink in the ward (P < .05); lower incidence of vomiting before and after the first drink in the ward (P < .05); lower thirst scale when patients were transferred out of the PACU (P < .05) and at 6 hours postoperatively (P < .05); and greater patient satisfaction on postoperative day 1 (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Early oral hydration in the PACU following laparoscopic cholecystectomy was safe and well-tolerated.