Evidence Hub

Preoperative Carbohydrate Drinks Do Not Decrease Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty-A Randomized Controlled Trial

Seokyung Shin, Yong S. Choi, H. Shin, I. Yang, K. Park, H. Kwon, Byunghag Kang, S. Y. Kim

Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2020

41 participants · 18 citations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated whether preoperative carbohydrate drink would be able to decrease postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and improve the quality of recovery (QoR) in diabetic patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

Eighty-two patients were randomized to either the intravenous (IV) Dextrose group (n = 41) or Oral carbohydrate (CHO) group (n = 41). The IV Dextrose group received dextrose solution mixed with insulin while fasting, and the Oral CHO group received carbohydrate drinks preoperatively. PONV was assessed up to postoperative 36 hours, and QoR was assessed before surgery and on postoperative day (POD) 1. Blood glucose was measured from the morning of surgery until POD 1.

RESULTS

PONV scores were not different between the groups. Postoperative QoR scores were significantly higher in the Oral CHO group (median [interquartile range]; 160 [153 to 167]) than the IV Dextrose group (155 [147 to 159]) (P = 0.009), but the difference did not meet the minimal clinically important difference. Blood glucose was comparable between the groups.

DISCUSSION

Preoperative CHO drink did not reduce PONV in diabetic patients after total knee arthroplasty. A statistically significant but clinically questionable improvement in the QoR was seen in the Oral CHO group. However, preoperative CHO drink did not increase hyperglycemia, which suggests that it may be a safe component of perioperative care in diabetic patients.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 41 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free