Is duration of postoperative fasting associated with infection and prolonged length of stay in surgical patients?

Objective: Verify whether the postoperative fasting period increases the risk for infection and prolonged length of stay. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Elective surgery patients were included. Excluded: those with no conditions for nutritional assessment, admitted in minimal care units, as well as with 1 day of postoperative fasting increased the infection risk by 2.04 (CI95%: 1.20 to 3.50), ≥ 3 days 2.81 (CI95%: 1.4-5.8), and in fasting for more than 5 days the infection risk was 2.88 times higher (CI95%: 1.17 to 7.16). The risk for prolonged hospitalization was 2.4 (CI95%: 1.48 to 3.77) among patients who had ≥ 1 day fasting, 4.44 (CI95%: 2.0 to 9.8) and 4.43 times higher (CI95%: 1.73 to 11.3) among patients with ≥ 3 days fasting and more than 5 days, respectively. Conclusion: The longer duration of postoperative fasting was an independent risk factor both for infection and for prolonged hospital stay. Objetivo: Constatar si el periodo de ayuno postoperatorio aumenta el riesgo de infección y prolonga la estancia hospitalaria. Métodos: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo. Fueron incluidos pacientes en cirugía selectiva. Se excluyeron aquellos sin posibilidades de evaluación nutricional, ingresados a unidades de cuidado mínimo y con 1 día de ayuno, 4,44 (CI95%: 2,0 al 9,8) y 4,43 veces más alta (CI95%: 1,73 al 11,3) entre pacientes con ≥ 3 días de ayuno y por más de 5 días, respectivamente. Conclusión: La mayor duración del ayuno postoperatorio fue un factor de riesgo independiente tanto para la infección como para la estancia hospitalaria prolongada.