Effect of Premedicant Oral Paracetamol on Gastric Volume and pH
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2021-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Patients are asked to fast before general anaesthesia to reduce the risk that any gastric
contents could be regurgitated and aspirated into the lungs once anaesthetised. If aspiration
does occur, the volume and acidity of the fluid aspirated are thought to determine the extent
of any harm caused. Recent guidelines have reduced the required fasting time for children for
clear fluids from 2 hours to 1 hour before induction of anaesthesia, as it is understood that
this does not adversely affect the gastric residual volume or increase its acidity.
Paracetamol is commonly used to relieve pain during and after surgery. Paracetamol syrup
preparations used in children are viscous and not classified as clear fluid. This study seeks
to establish whether there is non-inferiority in gastric residual volume (GRV) and pH in
children receiving oral paracetamol one hour before induction of anaesthesia and those who do
not, when both groups have received a set volume of diluted orange cordial to drink. It is
anticipated that if shown to have little or no impact on GRV and pH, oral paracetamol syrup
can be given to children before surgery. This will omit the need for IV paracetamol to be
given in theatre, potentially reducing cost and the risk of drug errors.