Is fasting needed before sedation?

Authors’ conclusions: there was no association between fasting duration and any type of adverse event, indicating that delaying sedation to meet established fasting guidelines does not improve sedation outcomes for children in the emergency department.

Reviewers’ commentary: it seems wise to follow strictly the protocols in risky cases such as serious illness, hyperemesis, bowel obstruction, endoscopy or bronchoscopy, but in other situations this practice does not show evidence of benefit, so an appropriate review of protocols on pre-sedation fasting is advisable.