The effect of fasting on surgical performance.

Background: It is unknown whether fasting has any impact on surgical performance. This simulator-based study investigates whether fasting affects surgical performance.

Methods: Twelve healthy medical students [seven women, mean age 26.5 years (range 23-34)] with no prior experience with surgical simulators underwent a short course introduction to the LapSim(®) simulator. After having reached a predefined level, the participants performed five simulated salpingectomies on the LapSim(®) simulator 5-30 days after the initial introduction. The procedures took place at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. after fasting from 9 p.m. the previous day. Time used to complete the procedure, instrument movements and "blood loss" were registered.

Results: The participants performed significantly better at 2 p.m. compared with 9 a.m. with regard to time, "blood loss" and instrument movements except from instrument movements in the longitudinal axis with the left hand.

Conclusion: The simulator-based study suggests that 17 h of fasting does not deteriorate surgical performance. Further studies on the effect of fasting on surgical performance are needed.