How fasting time before an elective cesarean affects recovery

How Fasting Duration Before Cesarean Section Affects the Quality of Recovery Score (ObsQoR-11)

Jewish General Hospital · NCT06701929

This study will see if shorter or longer fasting before an elective cesarean changes how well patients feel about their recovery 24 hours after surgery.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment100 (estimated)
SexFemale
SponsorJewish General Hospital (other)
Locations1 site (Montreal, Quebec)
Trial IDNCT06701929 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective observational study of patients having elective low-transverse cesarean sections under spinal anesthesia at a single center. Fasting duration for solids and clear fluids and the scheduled start time will be recorded, and patients will complete the 11-item ObsQoR-11 questionnaire about 24 hours after surgery. Additional data collected include intraoperative nausea/vomiting, IV fluid volume, vasopressor dose, pain scores at two hours, and opioid use in the first 24 hours. The primary analysis uses linear regression to look for correlations between fasting time and the ObsQoR-11 score, with a planned sample of 100 patients.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people scheduled for an elective cesarean with a low transverse incision under spinal anesthesia who can communicate in English or French.

Not a fit: Patients having urgent or emergency cesareans, planned general anesthesia, or those unable to communicate in English or French are not eligible and would not benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If a relationship is found, results could inform safer, more comfortable fasting guidelines that improve early recovery after elective cesarean.

How similar studies have performed: Previous perioperative fasting research supports shorter fasting for comfort and safety, but directly linking fasting duration to ObsQoR-11 recovery scores after cesarean is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Presenting for elective c-section under spinal anesthesia

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to communicate in French or English
* Urgent c-section
* Planned general anesthesia

Where this trial is running

Montreal, Quebec

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Quality Improvement, Quality of Recovery From Anaesthesia, Cesarean Section, Fasting ( 6H for Solid, 2H for Clear Fluid ), Quality of Recovery, cesarean section, fasting duration

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.