Determining the Optimal Time of Gastric Emptying in Cats Using Dry or Wet Food

Authors

  • Jorge Luiz Costa Castro Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Medicina Veterinária, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), São José dos Pinhais, PR, Brazil.
  • Sergio Santalucia Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Tubarão, SC, Brazil.
  • Ariele Aparecida Ferreira Unidade Hospitalar para Animais de Companhia (UHAC), PUCPR, São José dos Pinhais, PR.
  • Clara Biange dos Santos Moratelli Unidade Hospitalar para Animais de Companhia (UHAC), PUCPR, São José dos Pinhais, PR.
  • Verônica Souza Paiva Castro Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
  • André Lacerda de Abreu Oliveira Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
  • Rogério Luizari Guedes Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
  • Vinícius Gonzalez Peres Albernaz Unidade Hospitalar para Animais de Companhia (UHAC), PUCPR, São José dos Pinhais, PR.
  • Maicol Ache Cancian Graduação, Medicina Veterinária, UFSM, Santa Maria, RS.
  • Alceu Gaspar Raiser Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22456/1679-9216.80958

Keywords:

fasting, preoperative, anesthesia, cat, endoscopy.

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary aspiration of gastric content can result in intraoperative and postoperative complications, such as regurgitation, gastro-esophageal reflux and esophagitis. There are variations among authors about the ideal period of solid and liquid fasting. Determination of the appropriate amount of food abstinence in surgical patients is important, because of the metabolic disorders that interfere in response to anesthetic protocol or surgical intervention. Thereby, this research aimed to evaluate the appropriate period of fasting for elective anesthesia and surgical procedures in cats, by analysis of gastric emptying time based on the daily energy requirement.

Materials, Methods & Results: Seven cats of mixed breed, health and with an average weight of 2.857 ± 0.3780 were evaluated by gastroscopy for the presence of food and obtaining tissue samples. To evaluate the gastric emptying time, dry and moist food were offered at two different times, 8 h and 4 h before each evaluation, with an interval of seven days between each food treatment (dry and moist). There was no significant difference in all biochemical parameters evaluated (cholesterol, glucose, and lactate) in both fasting times and food types (P > 0.05). All animals underwent gastric biopsy for histological evaluation and urease test, to discard morphological changes. After 4 h it was observed dry food in all cat’s stomach, however just five cats presented food in their stomach after eight hours. In other hand all the animals, which ate moist food, did not present any gastric content after four hours and eight hours of feeding. Gastric mucosa were considered normal in all cats with moderate amount of Helicobacter sp.

Discussion: The difficulty of a consensus on the fast time in cats, and the great variability of the emptying time according to the feeding type, makes this study useful as basis for future studies on fasting with wet food, as well as providing immediate clinical application in surgical routine. Only a moderate gastritis related to helicobacter sp. was detected, but even healthy animals can carry Helicobacter sp.  Four h of fasting time if feed the patient with 80% humidity ration improve anesthetic security of the patient with typical biochemical values. As shown, the appropriate preoperative fasting directly implies on decrease in the number of complications related to full stomach. Thus, always should take into account the possibility to perform fast in an appropriate period to prevent vomiting and aspiration, without the risk of hypoglycemia benefiting the patient and reassuring the anesthesiologist, especially in situations requiring urgent or emergency intervention. As observed through endoscopy, even eight hours of fasting with dry feed is inappropriate due to significant gastric volume of food in almost all cats. This suggests that prolonged preoperative fasting is no guarantee of low stomach volume. Wet feed can be an option for elderly and debilitated patients requiring surgical intervention within a short period of fasting. The time varies with type and volume of food that is variable according patients and different species and digestive conditions. The research were conducted with none complications. By means, this experiment it was concluded that the fasting time of 4 h with 80% humidity moist food allows complete gastric emptying without any complication.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ambrósio A.M. 2002. Anestesia e sistema digestório. In: Fantoni D.T. & Cortopassi S.R. (Eds). Anestesia em cães e gatos. São Paulo: Roca, pp.260-270.

Arnbjerg J. 1992. Gastric emptying time in the dog and cat. Journal of American Animal Hospital Association. 28(1): 77-81.

Bednarski R.M. 1996. Dogs and cats. In: Thurmon J.L., Tranquilli W.J. & Benson G.J. (Eds). Lumb & Jones Veterinary Anesthesia. 3rd edn. Baltimore: William & Wilkins, pp.591-598.

Cortopassi S.R.G., Fantoni D.T., Kitahara F.R., Santos R.R. & Conti A. 2002. Complicações da anestesia. In: Fantoni D.T. & Cortopassi S.R.G. (Eds) Anestesia em cães e gatos. São Paulo: Roca, pp.349-361.

Côté C.J., Goudsouzian N.G., Liu L.M., Dendrick D.F. & Szyfelbein S.K. Assessment of risk factors related to the acid aspiration syndrome in pediatric patients - gastric pH and residual volume. Anesthesiology. 56(1): 70-72.

Day M.J., Bilzer T., Mansell J., Wilcock B., Hall E.J., Jergens A., Minami T., Willard M. & Washabau R. 2008. Histopathological standards for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal inflammation in endoscopic biopsy samples from dog and cat: a report from the Word Small Animal Veterinary Association Gastrointestinal Standardization Group. Journal of Comparative Pathology. 138(Suppl 1): S1-S43.

Fucci V., Pechman R.D., Hedlund C.S. & Venugopalan C.S. 1995. Large bowel transit times using radiopaque markers in normal cats. Journal American Animal Hospital Association. 35(6): 473-477.

Futema F. 2002. Avaliação pré-anestésica. In: Fantoni D.T. & Cortopassi S.R. (Eds). Anestesia em cães e gatos. São Paulo: Roca, pp.60-63.

Gibbs C.P. & Modell J.H. 1994. Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents: Pathophysiology, prevention, and management. In: Miller R.D. (Ed). Anesthesia. 4th edn. New York: Churchill Livingstone, pp.1437-1464.

Green C.R., Pandit S.K. & Schork M.A. 1996. Preoperative fasting time: is the traditional policy changing? Results of a national survey. Anesthesia Analgesia. 83(1): 123-128.

Guimarães S.M., Oliva V.N.L.S., Maia C.A.A., Ciarlini L.D.R.P., Perri, S.H.V., Silva A.R.S. Oliveira D.B. & Vivan M.C.R. 2007. Correlação de diferentes períodos de jejum com níveis séricos de cortisol, glicemia plasmática, estado clínico e equilíbrio ácido-base em cães submetidos a anestesia geral inalatória. Brazilian Journal Research Animal Science. 44(Suppl): 96-102.

Hall L.W., Clarke K.W. & Trim C.M. 2001. Anaesthesia of the dog. In: Hall L.W., Clarke K.W. & Trim C.M. (Eds). Veterinary Anaesthesia. 10th edn. London: Saunders, pp.385-439.

Hardy J.F. 1988. Large volume gastroesophageal reflux: a rationale for risk reduction in the perioperative period. Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia. 35(2): 162-173.

Hutchinson A., Maltby J.R. & Reid C.R. 1988. Gastric fluid volume and pH in elective impatiens. Part I: coffee or orange juice versus overnight fast. Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia. 35(1): 12-15.

Jonderko K. 1987. Gastric emptying in active duodenal ulcer. Hepatogastroenterology. 34(6): 272-274.

Kaneko J.J., Harvey J.W. & Bruss M.L. 1997. Appendix IX. In: Kaneko J.J., Harvey J.W. & Bruss M.L. (Eds). Clinical biochemestry of domestic animals. 5th edn. San Diego: Academic, pp.895-899.

Luna S.P.L. 2002. Equilíbrio ácido-básico. In: Fantoni D.T. & Cortopassi S.R. (Eds). Anestesia em cães e gatos. São Paulo: Roca, pp.120-129.

Maltby J.R., Sutherland A.D., Sale J.P. & Shaffer E.A. 1986. Preoperative oral fluids: is a five-hour fast justified prior to elective surgery? Anesthesia Analgesia. 65(11): 1112-1116.

Mandelson C.L. 1946. The aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs during obstetric anesthesia. American Journal of Obstetric Gynecology. 52: 191-205.

Massone F. 1999. Anestesiologia veterinária: farmacologia e técnicas. 3.ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan, 225p.

Massone F. 2003. Considerações gerais. In: Anestesiologia veterinária: farmacologia e técnicas. 4.ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan, pp.1-16.

Mastrocinque S. 2002. Anestesia em ginecologia e obstetrícia. In: Fantoni D.T. & Cortopassi S.R. (Eds). Anestesia em cães e gatos. São Paulo: Roca, pp.231-238.

Mayer E.A. Elashoff J., Hawkins R., Berquist W. & Taylor I.L. 1988. Gastric emptying of mixed solid-liquid meal in patients with intestinal pseudoobstruction. Digestive Diseases Sciences. 33(1): 10-18.

Moro E.T. 2004. Prevenção da aspiração pulmonar do conteúdo gástrico. Revista Brasileira de Anestesiologia. 54(2): 261-275.

Muir W.W. 2007. Considerations for general anesthesia. In: Tranquili W.J., Thurmon J.L. & Grimm K.A. (Eds). Lumb & Jones’ Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. 4th edn. Iowa: Blackwell Publishing, pp.7-30.

Neiger R. & Simpson K.W. 2000. Helicobacter infection in dogs and cats: facts and fiction. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 14(2): 125-133.

Neiger R., Dieterich C., Burnens A., Waldvogel A., Corthésy-Theulaz I., Halter F., Lauterburg B. & Schmassmann A. 1998. Detection and prevalence of Helicobacter infection in pets. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 36(3): 634-637.

Nogueira L.C., Cortopassi, S.R.G., Intelizano, T.R. & Souza M.S.B. 2003. Efeitos do jejum alimentar pré-cirúrgico sobre a glicemia e o período de recuperação anestésica em cães. Brazilian Journal Research Animal Science. 40(suppl 1): 20-25.

Papasouliotis K., Sparkes A.H., Gruffydd-Jones T.J., Cripps P.J. & Harper E.J. 1998. Use of the breath hydrogen test to assess the effect of age on orocecal transit time and carbohydrate assimilation in cats. American Journal Veterinary Research. 59(10): 1299-1302.

Peachey S.E., Dawson J.M. & Harper E.J. 2000. Gastrointestinal transit times in young and old cats. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A. 126(1): 85-90.

Savvas I., Rallis T. & Raptopoulos D. 2009. The effect of pre-anaesthetic fasting time and type of food on gastric content volume and acidity in dogs. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. 36(6): 539-546.

Solnick J.V. & Schauer D.B. 2001. Emergence of diverse Helicobacter species in the pathogenesis of gastric and enterohepatic diseases. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 14(1): 59-97.

Strunin L. 1993. How long should patients fast before surgery? Time for new guidelines. British Journal of Anaesthesia. 70(1): 1-3.

Thurmon J.C., Tranquilli W.J., Benson G.J. & Martin D.D. 1996. Anesthesia for Special Patients: Neonatal and Geriatric Patients. In: Thurmon J.L., Tranquilli W.J. & Benson G.J. (Eds). Lumb & Jones. Veterinary Anesthesia. 3rd edn. Baltimore: William & Wilkins, pp.844-848.

Trim C.M. 1987. Considerations and complications. In: Short C.E. (Ed). Principles & Practice of Veterinary Anesthesia. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, pp.261-262.

Published

2016-01-01

How to Cite

Castro, J. L. C., Santalucia, S., Ferreira, A. A., Moratelli, C. B. dos S., Castro, V. S. P., Oliveira, A. L. de A., Guedes, R. L., Albernaz, V. G. P., Cancian, M. A., & Raiser, A. G. (2016). Determining the Optimal Time of Gastric Emptying in Cats Using Dry or Wet Food. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, 44(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.22456/1679-9216.80958

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3 > >>