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Clinical Summary

Early oral intake after C-section: evidence of benefit

Takeaway

  • Beginning oral intake 6 hours after uncomplicated cesarean delivery (CD) does not affect gastrointestinal complaints and improves patient satisfaction.

Why this matters

  • Prior studies have suggested benefits from early oral intake after uncomplicated CD.

Key results

  • The intervention was associated with increased bowel sounds on the morning after surgery (87% vs 44.8%; P<.001) compared with controls.
  • No differences in time to passing flatus or stool between groups.
  • Increased maternal satisfaction with postoperative consumption (P=.049) and decreased hunger (P=.002) in the intervention group.
  • No differences in nausea, vomiting, or bloating between groups.

Study design

  • Single-blinded randomised controlled study.
  • Patients undergoing uncomplicated elective CD with singleton pregnancy were asked to participate (n=148).
  • Patients were randomly assigned to receive early (sips of water 6-8 hours after surgery, followed by soft and regular diet as tolerated) oral feeding (n=69) vs late (sips of water beginning at >12 hours after surgery) oral feeding (n=67).
  • Primary outcome was return to bowel function as assessed by time to pass flatus, time to pass stool, and the presence of bowel sounds the morning after surgery.
  • Funding: None disclosed.

Limitations

  • Patients were all low-risk.
  • Nurses could not be blinded to intervention.

References


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