Preoperative Carbohydrate Drink Prior to Elective Caesarean Section
Ireland69 participantsStarted 2020-01-20
Plain-language summary
Prior to caesarean section, patients should fast from solid food for 6 hours and from clear fluids for 2 hours. Carbohydrate drinks can also be consumed up to 2 hours before surgery. These drinks have been shown to improve patient well-being after surgery and may potentially improve the neonatal blood glucose level after delivery and reduce the risk of a low blood glucose level. This study aims to assess the influence of pre-operative carbohydrate drinks on blood glucose levels of the baby at delivery.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Elective caesarean section for singleton pregnancy under neuraxial anaesthesia.
* Subjects able to give informed consent and willing to comply with the study protocol.
* Subjects must be greater than 18 years old.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Diabetes Mellitus - including gestational diabetes.
* Known foetal abnormality.
* General anaesthesia.
* Gestation \< 37 weeks.
* Steroids received within 4 days of delivery.
* Low birth weight 2.5 kg (IUGR)
* BMI \> 40 kg/m2
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial is looking at giving a carbohydrate drink before a planned C-section to see how it affects the baby's blood sugar at birth — could this approach be something worth considering in my own birth plan, and what does my doctor think about the current evidence?
2Since this study is measuring the baby's cord blood glucose right after delivery, does my doctor have any concerns about how fasting before my scheduled C-section might be affecting my baby's blood sugar levels?
3The trial's recruitment status is listed as unknown, so before we even discuss whether this could be relevant to me, can my doctor help find out if this study is still actively enrolling patients?
4Standard fasting guidelines before surgery exist for safety reasons — how would my doctor weigh the potential benefit of a pre-surgery carbohydrate drink against those established fasting protocols for a C-section?
5Are there already any standard-of-care options my care team uses to support stable blood sugar for both me and my baby before a planned C-section, and how do those compare to what this trial is testing?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Neonatal cord blood glucose
Timeframe: 0 hours
Trial details
NCT IDNCT04159948
SponsorCoombe Women and Infants University Hospital