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Most cath labs in the U.S. follow the 2017 American Society of Anesthesiologists guideline for fasting before elective procedures (6 hours for solid food and 2 hours for clear liquid) despite a lack of strong data to support this practice. In a multicenter trial performed in Australia, investigators randomized 716 patients referred for diagnostic coronary angiography, planned percutaneous coronary intervention, or cardiac implantable electronic device to standard fasting or no fasting. The primary outcome was a composite of aspiration pneumonia, hypotension, hyperglycemia, and hypoglycemia. An important secondary outcome was patient satisfaction.
Participants' mean age was 69 years, 65% were men, and 80% underwent coronary procedures. The av…