Preoperative and Postoperative Fasting and Delirium (FAST-POD)

The Relationship Between Preoperative and Postoperative Fasting Durations and Postoperative Delirium

Postoperative delirium is a common and serious complication after surgery, especially in older patients, and is associated with prolonged hospital stay and worse recovery. Fasting before and after surgery is a routine part of perioperative care; however, prolonged fasting may negatively affect recovery and brain function.

This prospective, observational, multicenter study aims to evaluate the relationship between preoperative and postoperative fasting durations and the development of postoperative delirium in adult patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery under general or regional anesthesia.

Fasting times before and after surgery will be recorded. Patients will be assessed for postoperative delirium during the first three postoperative days using validated screening tools. No additional interventions will be applied, and all patients will receive standard perioperative care.

The results of this study may help identify whether prolonged fasting is associated with a higher risk of postoperative delirium and may contribute to improving perioperative fasting practices and patient safety.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Postoperative Delirium Perioperative Fasting

Detailed Description

This is a prospective, observational, multicenter study designed to investigate the association between preoperative and postoperative fasting durations and the occurrence of postoperative delirium in adult surgical patients.

Adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing elective or emergency surgery under general or regional anesthesia will be included. Patients with pre-existing delirium, advanced dementia, postoperative intensive care unit admission, or inability to complete delirium assessments will be excluded.

Preoperative fasting duration will be defined as the time from the last oral intake to the induction of anesthesia. Postoperative fasting duration will be defined as the time from the end of surgery to the first oral intake. Fasting durations will be recorded for each participant.

Postoperative delirium will be assessed using validated screening tools (Confusion Assessment Method or Nursing Delirium Screening Scale) twice daily during the first three postoperative days. Routine perioperative management will not be altered for study purposes, and no study-specific interventions will be applied.

Demographic data, comorbidities, type of surgery, and perioperative clinical parameters will be collected as part of standard care. The primary objective is to evaluate the relationship between fasting durations and postoperative delirium. Secondary analyses will explore factors associated with delirium development.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 1000

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: emel gündüz, md; Phone Number: +902422496000; Email: dregunduz@hotmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of adult patients aged 18 years and older who undergo elective or emergency surgical procedures under general or regional anesthesia. Participants are hospitalized for postoperative follow-up and are assessed prospectively for fasting durations and postoperative delirium as part of routine perioperative care.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:Adults aged 18 years or older

Patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery under general or regional anesthesia

Ability to communicate and cooperate with postoperative delirium assessments

Expected postoperative hospital stay of at least 72 hours

Provision of written informed consent

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Exclusion Criteria:Presence of preoperative delirium (positive CAM or Nu-DESC ≥2)

Advanced dementia or severe cognitive impairment

Planned postoperative intensive care unit admission

Active alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal

Inability to complete delirium assessments due to severe hearing, vision, or speech impairment

Lack of postoperative follow-up availability

Planned cardiac surgery

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Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of postoperative delirium	Postoperative delirium will be assessed using validated screening tools (Confusion Assessment Method or Nursing Delirium Screening Scale) during the first three postoperative days.	During the first 3 postoperative days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Duration of postoperative delirium	The duration of postoperative delirium will be recorded based on daily delirium assessments during the first three postoperative days.	During the first 3 postoperative days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Akdeniz University
• Collaborators: Turkish Society of Anesthesiology and Reanimation

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 10, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 30, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 30, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 30, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Observational Study; Multicenter Study; Postoperative Delirium; Surgical Patients; Preoperative Fasting; Postoperative Fasting
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Confusion; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurocognitive Disorders; Delirium; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Emergence Delirium
• Other Study ID Numbers: TARD_FASTING_POD_01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared because the study is observational and data are collected for predefined research purposes in accordance with local ethical approval and data protection regulations.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No