Comparative Effects of Preoperative Carbohydrate Loading And Fasting on Recovery Outcomes in Colorectal Surgery

Preoperative oral carbohydrate treatment improves postoperative recovery. Fasting before surgery increases stress response and insulin resistance. Objective: To examine the effects of preoperative oral carbohydrate loading and traditional fasting on gastrointestinal function, independent walking time, and hospital stay after colorectal surgery. Methods: A quasi-experiment study with 90 individuals diagnosed by extensive history, clinical examination, and pertinent investigations split patients into Group A and Group B. General Anesthesia was used for all surgeries. Group A had surgery after 6 hours of nil per os, whereas Group B had a clear carbohydrate drink 14 hours before surgery and another 2 hours before anesthesia induction. Up to 72 hours after surgery, bowel noises, first flatus and feces, and time to independent ambulation were monitored. Results: The conventional approach in Group A produced a mean time of 51.4 ± 5.2 hours for bowel sounds, 62.9 ± 6.5 hours for first flatus, 77.95 ± 1.00 hours for defecation, 82.73 ± 9.6 hours for independent ambulation, and 5.02 ± 1.4 days for hospital stay. Group B, who received oral carbohydrate loading therapy before surgery, had shorter times for bowel sounds (43.5 ± 9.1 hours), first flatus (54.8 ± 4.6 hours), defecation (67.5 ± 11 hours), and independent ambulation (72.7 ± 6.6 hours), but a similar hospital stay (5.02 ± 1.49 days Hospital stay was not substantially different (p-value = 0.744), but surgical results were (0.000). Conclusions: Oral carbohydrate loading before colorectal surgery improves gastrointestinal function, speeds independent walking, and reduces hospital stays.