The impact of oral carbohydrate-rich supplement taken two hours before caesarean delivery on maternal and neonatal perioperative outcomes -- a randomized clinical trial.

Background: To evaluate the impact of oral carbohydrate-rich (Ch-R) supplement taken 2 hours before an elective caesarean delivery (CD) on maternal and neonatal perioperative outcomes.

Methods: Ninety pregnant women undergoing elective CD were randomized into the Ch-R group, placebo group and fasting group equally. Participants' blood was drawn at three time points, before intervention, immediately after and 1 day after the surgery to measure maternal and neonatal biochemical indices. Meanwhile women's perioperative symptoms and signs were recorded.

Results: Eighty-eight pregnant women were finally included in the study. Women who had drunk Ch-R supplement had lower postoperative insulin level (β = - 3.50, 95% CI - 5.45 to - 1.56), as well as postoperative HOMA-IR index (β = - 0.74, 95% CI - 1.15 to - 0.34), compared with women who had fasted. Additionally, neonates of mothers who were allocated in the Ch-R group also had a higher glucose level, compared with neonates of mothers in the fasting group (β = 0.40, CI 0.17 to 0.62).

Conclusion: Oral Ch-R solution administered 2 hours before an elective CD may not only alleviate maternal postoperative insulin resistance, but also comfort women's preoperative thirst and hunger, compared to fasting. Additionally, it may increase neonatal glucose level as well.

Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000033163 . Data of Registration: 2020-5-22.