Browsing by Author "Prinsloo, Nathalie"

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    Preoperative fasting practices and incidence of hypoglycaemia in patients presenting for caesarean section at a central hospital
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Prinsloo, Nathalie
    Background Prolonged preoperative fasting times have a negative impact on parturients and may have a negative impact on the neonate. This study aimed to describe the preoperative fasting practices and incidence of hypoglycaemia in obstetric patients undergoing caesarean section, as well as the incidence of neonatal hypoglycaemia at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. Methods This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 over six months at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. The sample consisted of 213 adult parturients who presented for emergency or elective caesarean section and excluded those who could not provide a history of fasting practices. Maternal blood glucose levels were measured prior to anaesthesia and neonatal blood glucose levels were measured immediately after delivery. Results Mean (SD) fasting times to solids and fluids were 18 h, 19 min (12 h, 4 min) and 13 h, 2 min (8 h, 31 min), respectively. Maternal hypoglycaemia occurred in 24.4% of the parturients and was associated with longer periods of fasting to solids (P=0.049). The incidence of neonatal hypoglycaemia was 1.8% and maternal blood glucose level was significantly positively correlated with neonatal blood glucose level (r=0.59, P<0.001). Conclusion Preoperative starvation times were excessive and should be addressed to avoid maternal hypoglycaemia. The impact of maternal hypoglycaemia on the neonate is less clear and further research is required before a protocol can be developed. It may be prudent to check the blood glucose levels of all parturients prior to caesarean section.