Early compared with delayed oral fluids and food after caesarean section

Mangesi L, Hofmeyr GJ

Published Online:

January 21, 2009

Drinking and eating again soon after caesarean section does not seem to cause women any problems, and may even speed recovery.

There is a lot of variation in policies about when women are allowed to eat or drink after caesarean section. In some hospitals, women are not allowed to have food or fluids for more than 24 hours after the operation, in the belief that it might take a while for the bowels to settle down after abdominal surgery. However, caesarean section may not disrupt bowel function at all. The review found the evidence from trials does not justify withholding food and drink after uncomplicated caesarean section. There is some evidence, although not strong, that early food and drink might speed bowel recovery.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

It is customary for fluids and/or food to be withheld for a period of time after abdominal operations. After caesarean section, practices vary considerably. These discrepancies raise concern as to the bases of different practices.

Objectives:

To assess the effect of early versus delayed introduction of fluids and/or food after caesarean section.

Search strategy:

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register (January 2002) and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (The Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2001).

Selection criteria:

Clinical trials with random allocation comparing early versus delayed oral fluids and/or food after caesarean section were considered. The participants were women within the first 24 hours after caesarean section. The criteria for 'early' feeding were as defined by the individual trial authors - usually within six to eight hours of surgery.

Data collection and analysis:

Trials considered were evaluated for methodological quality and appropriateness for inclusion. For dichotomous data, relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Continuous data were compared using weighted mean difference and 95% confidence interval. Sub-group analyses were performed for general anaesthesia, regional analgesia and where anaesthesia was mixed or undefined.

Main results:

Of 12 studies considered, six were included in this review. Four were excluded and two are pending further information. The methodological quality of the studies was variable. Only one to three studies contributed usable data to each outcome. Three studies were limited to surgery under regional analgesia, while three included both regional analgesia and general anaesthesia.

Early oral fluids or food were associated with: reduced time to first food intake (one study, 118 women; the intervention was a slush diet and food was introduced according to clinical parameters; weighted mean difference -7.20 hours, 95% confidence interval -13.26 to -1.14); reduced time to return of bowel sounds (one study, 118 women; -4.30 hours, -6.78 to -1.82); reduced postoperative hospital stay following surgery under regional analgesia (two studies, 220 women; -0.75 days, -1.37 to -0.12 - random effects model); and a trend to reduced abdominal distension (three studies, 369 women; relative risk 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.55 to 1.11). No significant differences were identified with respect to nausea, vomiting, time to bowel action/ passing flatus, paralytic ileus and number of analgesic doses.

Authors' conclusions:

There was no evidence from the limited randomised trials reviewed, to justify a policy of withholding oral fluids after uncomplicatedcaesarean section. Further research is justified.

This record should be cited as:

Mangesi L, Hofmeyr GJ. Early compared with delayed oral fluids and food after caesarean section. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2002, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD003516. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003516

Assessed as up to date:

May 20, 2002

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Primary Review Group:

Pregnancy and Childbirth Group

Health topics:

Pregnancy & childbirth > Caesarian section > Other interventions

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Early compared with delayed oral fluids and food after caesarean section

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