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NCT Number: NCT07391631

Preoperative and Postoperative Fasting and 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.

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Key information

Conditions

Postoperative Delirium Perioperative Fasting Confusion Delirium Emergence Delirium Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurocognitive Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Postoperative Complications Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

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

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Incidence of postoperative delirium

Time frame: During the first 3 postoperative days

Postoperative delirium will be assessed using validated screening tools (Confusion Assessment Method or Nursing Delirium Screening Scale) during the first three postoperative days.

Secondary outcomes

Duration of postoperative delirium

Time frame: During the first 3 postoperative days

The duration of postoperative delirium will be recorded based on daily delirium assessments during the first three postoperative days.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

emel gündüz, md

CONTACT

[email protected]

+902422496000

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Akdeniz University

Other

Collaborators

Turkish Society of Anesthesiology and Reanimation

Registry information

Official study title

The Relationship Between Preoperative and Postoperative Fasting Durations and Postoperative Delirium

Acronym: FAST-POD

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2027
First posted: Feb 6, 2026
Registry last updated: Feb 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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