Fasting Versus Non-fasting on Outcomes and Satisfaction Prior to Cardiac Catheterization

Moderate sedation is used in the catheterization laboratory relieve the anxiety and discomfort associated with access and other aspects of the procedure. Whether being in a fasting state (nothing per os, NPO) at the time of the procedure is beneficial or harmful is not well known, but patients are typically required to be fasting at the time of elective procedures, guidance derived from procedures that require general anesthesia. Whereas the typical thinking was that fasting prior to procedures would minimize the risk of aspiration in the event of intubation, or nausea and other symptoms generally, several studies have shown that prolonged fasting prior to procedures is associated with increased nausea, vomiting, aspiration and procedure recovery time. We aim to evaluate patient satisfaction, nausea and immediate outcomes of patients who are not kept NPO prior to cardiac catheterization.