Preoperative Minimal-Residue Diet Versus Fasting Alone in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

Abstract

Objective: The present prospective randomized study compared the effects of a minimal-residue low fiber diet for 3 days preoperatively with fasting alone on surgical vision and efficiency during laparoscopic hysterectomy and myomectomy, as well as patient outcomes after these procedures were completed. Materials and Methods: The present study included 281 patients who underwent surgery between April 2012 and June 2015. Prior to surgery, the patients were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: (1) a fasting-alone group or (2) a minimal-residue diet group. The primary outcome was the visual quality of the surgical field. Results: Overall exposure of the surgical field was evaluated as “good” or “excellent” in 100 of 139 (71.9%) patients of the fasting-alone group and in 108 of 142 (76.0%) patients of the minimal-residue diet group, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.79). Conclusions: A preoperative minimal-residual diet does not improve the quality of surgical vision, compared to fasting alone. Accordingly, it may be reported that fasting alone is a safe and preferable alternative with no added complications in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, such as laparoscopic hysterectomy and myomectomy. (J GYNECOL SURG 37:485)