How long should patients refrain from oral food and fluid intake after general anaesthesia? An assessment of the swallowing reflex of postoperative neurosurgical patients.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to detect swallowing abnormalities in patients after short-term neurosurgical interventions under general anaesthesia, comparing patients with supratentorial operations with a group undergoing extracranial neurosurgery (nucleotomy).

METHODS

20 patients in each group were examined by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) after general anaesthesia.

RESULTS

No patient demonstrated dysphagia, aspiration, or oxygen desaturation.

CONCLUSION

In these patient groups, early postoperative feeding was safe. Postoperative food intake can probably be allowed early after general anaesthesia.