Enhanced muscle strength with carbohydrate supplement two hours before open cholecystectomy: a randomized, double-blind study.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the effects of preoperative fasting abbreviation with oral supplementation with carbohydrate in the evolution of grip strength in patients undergoing cholecystectomy by laparotomy. METHODS: we conducted a clinical, randomizeddouble blind study with adult female patients, aged 18-60 years. Patients were divided into two groups: Control Group, with fasting prescription 6-8h until the time of operation; and Intervention Group, which received prescription of fasting for solids 6-8h before surgery, but ingested an oral supplement containing 12.5% carbohydrate, six (400ml) and two (200ml) hours before theprocedure. The handgrip strength was measured in both hands in both groups, at patient's admission (6h before surgery), the immediate pre-operative time (1h before surgery) and 12-18h postoperatively. RESULTS: we analyzed 27 patients, 14 in the intervention group and 13 in the control group. There was no mortality. The handgrip strength (mean [standard deviation]) was significantly higher in the intervention group in the three periods studied, in at least one hand: preoperatively in the dominant hand (27.8 [2.6] vs 24.1 [3.7] kg; p=0.04), in the immediate preoperative in both hands, and postoperatively in the non-dominant hand (28.5 [3.0] vs 21.3 [5.9] kg; p=0.01). CONCLUSION: the abbreviation of preoperative fasting to two hours with drink containing carbohydrate improves muscle function in the perioperative period.

Enhanced muscle strength with carbohydrate supplement two hours before open cholecystectomy: a randomized, double-blind study / Melhora da força muscular com suplemento contendo carboidratos duas horas antes de colecistectomia por laparotomia: estudo randomizado e duplo cego

Objective: to investigate the effects of preoperative fasting abbreviation with oral supplementation with carbohydrate in the evolution of grip strength in patients undergoing cholecystectomy by laparotomy. Methods : we conducted a clinical, randomizeddouble blind study with adult female patients, aged 18-60 years. Patients were divided into two groups: Control Group, with fasting prescription 6-8h until the time of operation; and Intervention Group, which received prescription of fasting for solids 6-8h before surgery, but ingested an oral supplement containing 12.5% carbohydrate, six (400ml) and two (200ml) hours before theprocedure. The handgrip strength was measured in both hands in both groups, at patient's admission (6h before surgery), the immediate pre-operative time (1h before surgery) and 12-18h postoperatively. Results : we analyzed 27 patients, 14 in the intervention group and 13 in the control group. There was no mortality. The handgrip strength (mean [standard deviation]) was significantly higher in the intervention group in the three periods studied, in at least one hand: preoperatively in the dominant hand (27.8 [2.6] vs 24.1 [3.7] kg; p=0.04), in the immediate preoperative in both hands, and postoperatively in the non-dominant hand (28.5 [3.0] vs 21.3 [5.9] kg; p=0.01). Conclusion : the abbreviation of preoperative fasting to two hours with drink containing carbohydrate improves muscle function in the perioperative period.

Objetivo : investigar os efeitos da abreviação do jejum pré-operatório com suplementação oral contendo carboidrato na evolução da força de preensão palmar em indivíduos submetidos à colecistectomia por laparotomia. Métodos : estudo clínico randomizado e duplo cego em pacientes adultos do sexo feminino, com idade entre 18 a 60 anos. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: grupo controle, com prescrição de jejum de 6-8h até o momento da operação e o grupo intervenção, que recebeu prescrição de jejum para sólidos de 6-8h, porém ingeriu um suplemento oral contendo 12,5% de carboidrato, seis (400ml) e duas (200ml) horas antes do procedimento operatório. A força de preensão palmar foi aferida em ambas as mãos nos dois grupos, no momento de internação do paciente (6h antes da operação), no pré-operatório imediato (1h antes da operação) e com 12-18h de pós-operatório. Resultados : foram analisados 27 pacientes, 14 do grupo intervenção e 13 do grupo controle. Não houve mortalidade. A força de preensão palmar (média [desvio padrão] foi significantemente maior no grupo intervenção nos três períodos estudados, em ao menos uma das mãos: no pré-operatório na mão dominante (27,8 [2,6] vs. 24,1 [3,7] kg; p=0,04), no pré-operatório imediato nas duas mãos, e no pós-operatório na mão não dominante (28,5 [3,0] vs. 21,3 [5,9] kg; p=0,01). Conclusão : a abreviação do jejum pré-operatório para duas horas com bebida contendo carboidrato melhora a função muscular no período perioperatório.

Efficacy of synbiotics to reduce acute radiation proctitis symptoms and improve quality of life: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the daily intake of synbiotics interferes in radiation-induced acute proctitis symptoms and in quality of life in patients with prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty patients who underwent 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for prostate cancer were randomized to intake either a synbiotic powder containing Lactobacillus reuteri 10(8) colony-forming units and 4.3 g of soluble fiber (Nestlé) or placebo. The questionnaire EORTC QLQ-PRT23 was applied before the beginning of radiation therapy and in every week for the first 4 weeks of treatment. The sum of both the complete (proctitis symptoms plus quality of life) and partial (proctitis symptoms) scores of the EORTC QLQ-PRT23 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Module for Proctitis-23 items) questionnaire were the main endpoints. RESULTS: This pilot study showed that the complete questionnaire score (median [range]) was higher in the second (23 [21-30] vs 26.5 [22-34], P<.05) and third (23 [21-32] vs 27.5 [24-33], P<.01) weeks in the placebo group. Proctitis symptoms were highest scored in the placebo group in both the second (19.5 [16-25]) and third (19 [17-24]) weeks than in the synbiotic group (week 2: 16.5 [15-20], P<.05; week 3: 17 [15-23], P<.01). In both scores the placebo group had a significantly higher result (P<.01) than the synbiotic group (repeated-measures analysis of variance). CONCLUSIONS: Synbiotics reduce proctitis symptoms and improve quality of life in radiation-induced acute proctitis during radiation therapy for prostate cancer.