Fasting Induced Hypoglycaemia in Anaesthetised Paediatric Patients

Status: Recruiting
Location: See all (3) locations...
Study Type: Observational
SUMMARY

Fasting is a requirement to safely anesthetise patients referred for elective procedure, using the traditional 6/4/2 rule (6h for solid food or formula milk, 4h for breast milk and 2h for clear fluids), applied to all patients regardless of their age or weight. Reducing the aspiration risk however puts young children at higher risk of hypoglycemia due to the immaturity of their endocrine system and absence of metabolic reserves. The Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland recommends that during day case surgery the majority of children may be given fluids without dextrose, provided blood glucose is monitored. Recent statements recommend continuing fluids until 1h before the procedure or even to give fluids when anesthetists sent for the patients. Hypoglycemia is rare in children above 2 years of age. Although the definition of hypoglycemia can differ, a threshold of 3.6mmol/l is often used given the potential neurological harm existing below this value. There is no consensus on the definition of hypoglycemia in children being fasted prior to general anesthesia, nor when nor how to treat it. Measurements are done for complex surgeries or patients deemed at risk according to the anesthetists. An audit was run in 2017 at the Evelina London Children's Hospital , Guy's and St Thomas' National Health Service Foundation Trust, identifying 8% of children below 2 years of age as hypoglycemic. Recent review of our Incident Reporting Systems identified 3 cases, in otherwise fit and healthy children, referred for colonoscopy with initial hypoglycemia followed by rebound hypoglycemia after management. There is an urgent need to establish a clear definition of hypoglycemia and investigate risk factors in paediatric patients referred for elective procedures under general anesthesia.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 1 month
Maximum Age: 18
View:

• All American Society of Anesthesiology score (ASA) 1 - 3 children aged 1 month to 18 years presenting for an elective procedure involving general anaesthesia during the defined study period

• All elective cases, day cases will be included (patient's admitted the night before for bowel preparation prior to elective colonoscopy should also be included)

• Planned expedited cases in ASA 1 / 2 children should be included, for example nail bed repairs, lacerations, foreign body (in ear / eye / nose), simple fractures for manipulation under anesthesia / k-wires

• MRI, radiology and dental cases will be included provided the patient receives a general anaesthetic

Locations
Other Locations
United Kingdom
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
RECRUITING
Exeter
Evelina London Children's Hospital
RECRUITING
London
Moorfields Eye Hospital
COMPLETED
London
Contact Information
Primary
Benjamin Blaise, MD PhD
gstt.figsstudy@nhs.net
+447478741874
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-05-12
Estimated Completion Date: 2027-01-12
Participants
Target number of participants: 6580
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Collaborators: Evelina London Children's Charity, Kings Health Partners, Nova Biomedical
Leads: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov