Effect of Preoperative Oral Carbohydrate Loading on Perioperative Hemodynamic in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Study

Background: Conventional preoperative fasting is associated with intravascular volume contraction, increased stress, hyperglycaemia in the perioperative period. Recently, the concept of preoperative carbohydrate loading is introduced. This study was conducted to reveal the relation between use of carbohydrate-rich fluid and perioperative hemodynamic, perfusion index, and glucose control of the patients, who were undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Methods: This study is a double-blinded prospective randomized control study. The patients, who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into 2 groups of 43 each with the help of computer-generated randomization method. Patients who received preoperative carbohydrate loading and patients who follow conventional preoperative fasting for surgery were labelled as Group E and Group S respectively. Incidence of hypotension was the primary outcome; variation in blood pressure, heart rate, perfusion index, and blood glucose level were the secondary outcomes. Results: Intraoperative hypotensive episodes were significantly lower in the carbohydrate loading group in comparison to the conventional fasting group, p=0.023. The systolic, diastolic blood pressure and perfusion index were significantly lower in the conventional fasting group. Also, the heart rate was significantly higher in the conventional fasting group. Numeric rating scale, the score for pain taken at 1 hour postoperatively was significantly lower in the carbohydrate loading group. Blood glucose level postoperatively after 24 hours was significantly more in the conventional fasting group. Conclusion: The carbohydrate loading group has better hemodynamic stability and optimal intravascular volume after induction and intraoperatively. Also, the carbohydrate loading group had better glycaemic control and better pain relief postoperatively.