Author: drinkcfadmin

5 Tips for Preparing for Wisdom Teeth Removal

Post author By drinkcfadmin
Post date December 7, 2017
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5 Tips for Preparing for Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth removal is practically a high-school rite of passage. In fact, nearly 85 percent of adults have had their wisdom teeth removed, and just around 10 million wisdom teeth are removed each year (that’s 5 million mouths that are operated on annually!). So, how do you help your highschooler prepare for this dreaded—but common—oral surgery? Today, we’re breaking gown:

Having the right questions prepared
Stocking up on recovery items
Putting a Plan B in place
Reducing your child’s risk of post-op nausea and vomiting
Preparing your home for recovery

Now, let’s dig in…

Make preparing for wisdom teeth removal as painless as possible with these five expert tips:

Have a list of questions prepared for your surgeon

Preparing for wisdom teeth removal starts with speaking up! As the old adage goes, it’s hard to see the entire picture when you’re inside of the frame—and sometimes a doctor’s expertise and extreme familiarity with a procedure means he or she can neglect to break down the basics for those who are facing the surgery for the very first time. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Sending our kids into surgery can be scary (to say the least), so avoid stress and confusion on the day of by having a list of questions prepared for your child’s pre-op appointment. We recommend ensuring you have the answers to the following:

What time will we need to show up for the oral surgery?
Is there any paperwork we can fill out in advance?
How long will the procedure take?
Will you be using local or general anesthesia?
Will my child need to fast the night before the surgery?
Can they safely work a preop drink into their surgery prep?
What will their recovery be like and how long will the recovery process take?
Will they be sent home with pain medication or can we purchase over the counter medication?

Stock up on recovery items and fill prescriptions

The last thing anyone wants to do after surgery is head to the grocery store, which is why stocking up on recovery items is key when it comes to preparing for wisdom teeth removal. Be sure to purchase multiple ice packs (or ask your doctor if they’ll send you home with some), soft foods, soups and hydrating liquids. If your doctor does plan on prescribing pain meds for your child’s recovery, ask that they write the prescription in advance so you can fill the prescription before the oral surgery—rather than having to head to the pharmacy on your way home with a groggy, recovering child in your car.

Have a Plan B

With children under 18, a parent or guardian will need to be present before, during and definitely after the oral surgery to drive the patient home. It’s always best to ensure you’ve got one friend, family member or other parent lined up should something unexpected happen. Whether it’s a last-minute work meeting that you simply can’t miss, the dog accidentally setting off your home security alarm, or another child getting sick at school while one is in surgery—the last thing you want is to have no plan B if an unexpected emergency comes up.

Reduce the chances of nausea and vomiting with ClearFast

We’d do anything to make our kids feel a little better when they’re up against something tough, and having the comfort of some nourishment goes a long way. But how do you ensure your child is nourished when they’ve been instructed to fast after midnight? ClearFast might be the answer! More and more modern research points to the fact that working a carb-rich, clear preop drink into your surgery prep routine can make a huge difference in patient comfort and safety before and after surgery. Rather than showing up to surgery starved and dehydrated, ClearFast acts as a liquid food, safely nourishing your child before their oral surgery. This means they can say goodbye to multiple, painful IV “sticks” (which happens as a result of dehydration). Plus, ClearFast is proven to greatly reduce post-op nausea and vomiting—so you won’t have to worry about paying for a car detail job after you drive your child home. Be sure to ask your doctor if working ClearFast into your child’s oral surgery prep is right for their procedure.

Prepare your home for recovery

Preparing for wisdom teeth removal is all about being proactive. Before you head into surgery, make sure you’ve prepared a cozy, comfortable, safe recovery area for your child. They’ll likely be instructed to keep their head elevated, so have a spot set up either on a couch or bed where you can prop pillows. Collect items they’ll need (water, kleenex, ice-packs, television remote, etc.) and store them within arm’s length of their resting spot—having everything set up and ready to go for your recovering patient will mean fewer hollers of “Mom!” or “Dad!” down the hallway while you’re trying to juggle work, housework and a million other to-do’s.

Overall, preparing for wisdom teeth removal comes down to taking simple, smart, proactive steps before your child’s oral surgery. Be sure to talk to your doctor about ClearFast, and, with their approval, order your ClearFast Preop Drink here to get a major leg up on the dreaded wisdom-teeth removal and recovery process. As always, reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions about our preop drink at all!

Preparing for Surgery

Preparing for Surgery with ClearFast: “Ask Your Doctor!”

Post author By drinkcfadmin
Post date December 5, 2017
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Preparing for Surgery with ClearFast: “Ask Your Doctor!”

We’ve seen those commercials time and time again—the ones that always end with: “Ask your doctor…” Fortunately, when it comes to going under, there’s one legitimate question you actually should ask your doctor about surgery prep. Today, we’ll cover:

Why you should ask your doctor about using ClearFast for your surgery prep
Why fasting before surgery is now seen as outdated
Why top-rated hospitals recommend a clear, carb-rich pre-op drink in place of fasting before surgery
Talking to your doctor about ClearFast

Now, let’s dig in…

We’ve all been there—you’re preparing for surgery at your pre-op appointment, and, while you had a list of questions to ask your doctor, you suddenly you find yourself at a loss for words. Doctors, after all, are healthcare experts and asking them questions or broaching brand-new subjects with physicians can be intimidating. But, we’re going to let you in on a little secret: ”Ask your doctor!” (that phrase we hear on so many pharmaceutical commercials these days) is actually one of the best ways you can advocate for yourself during your surgery prep process.

Fasting Before Surgery?

Talking to your doctor is especially important when it comes to the idea of fasting before surgery. Patients are often given the typical, old-school instructions to follow the “no food or drink after midnight” rule—and we don’t want to feel like we’re stepping on our doctor’s toes by questioning this approach. However, more and more modern research is pointing to the fact that preparing for surgery with the right preop drink (rather than abstaining from all liquids) actually makes for a safer, more comfortable experience before, during and after surgery. After all, heading into surgery starved and dehydrated is often a recipe for discomfort, stress and an increased hospital stay.

Enhancing Your Recovery Time

In fact, top-rated hospitals across the world have now begun implementing Enhanced Recovery Programs, which outline different steps doctors and patients should take in order to enhance a patient’s recovery process after surgery—which ultimately lowers the cost for hospitals and makes for a better experience for patients (no patient has ever left the hospital saying they wished they could stay longer, after all!).

One of the key pieces of these Enhanced Recovery Programs is preparing for surgery with a clear, complex carb-rich beverage to hydrate and nourish before surgery—a simple step that has been proven to reduce post-op nausea and vomiting, decrease the risk of post-op infection, and ultimately shorten the time between going under and getting to go home!

Talking to Your Doctor about ClearFast

As part of your surgery prep process, then, it’s important to ask your doctor if your hospital has one of these Enhanced Recovery Programs and, if so, if drinking ClearFast is right for your procedure prep. Why spend the night before surgery starved and stressed, and head into your procedure dehydrated? Asking your doctor about ClearFast can be the difference between a stressful, uncomfortable surgery experience and a seamless one—but you’ll never reap the benefits of our preop drink if you don’t ask. (So your doctor hasn’t heard of ClearFast? Not to worry! We’ve developed a comprehensive, robust medical professionals section of the ClearFast website where physicians can find studies, research and other helpful information regarding preparing for surgery with the ClearFast preop drink.)

Overall, it’s important to remember that doctors deal with tons of different patients and unique healthcare circumstances every day, and there’s no way any human being (even the best doctors in the world) can know every single thing that’s going through each individual patient’s mind. Advocating for yourself at your doctor’s office—while always following their informed advice, of course—is a key when it comes to preparing for surgery.

Talked to your doctor and ready to order ClearFast for your surgery prep? Order your ClearFast Preop Drink here to get a major leg up on the dreaded surgery and recovery process—or reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions about the process at all.

Preparing for Surgery Presurgery Nutrition

Set Your Body Up For Success: Proactive Surgery Prep with the Right Presurgery Drink

Post author By drinkcfadmin
Post date November 30, 2017
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Set Your Body Up For Success: Proactive Surgery Prep with the Right Preop Drink

Going under the knife is never fun—but fortunately there is one major surgery-prep step you can take to help your ensure you enter surgery more relaxed, come out of surgery more comfortable and recover faster. Today, we’ll cover:

Drinking ClearFast before your surgery to:
- Reduce dehydration and hunger
- Make for easier, less painful IV “sticks”
- Reduce post-op nausea and vomiting
- Get an edge on recovery

Now, let’s dig in…

Anyone who’s undergone anesthesia knows the scene: you’ve spent the night restless and anxious about your upcoming surgery, you’re nervous and uncomfortable (and could really use that all-important cup of morning coffee you’ve had to skip), you’re getting poked and prodded with IVs…and to top it off, YOU’RE STARVING. Could it get any worse?

An estimated 232 million surgeries are performed worldwide each year, and, as many of us know, we tend to write surgery off as an experience that will be inevitably terrible, no matter what. Because of this, we often never even consider taking steps to make surgery prep and surgery recovery more comfortable for ourselves. But, the truth is, going under doesn’t have to look and feel like the all-too-familiar scene above. The key to minimizing discomfort lies in being proactive and setting our bodies up for success—rather than leaving our surgery experience up to chance.

Think about it like preparing for a marathon—you’d never show up starving, dehydrated and ill-prepared for the big run, right? No—you’d make sure your body had all of the support it needed before it took on such a big challenge. We like to look at surgery the same way—your body is about to undergo a tremendous amount of stress. Because of this, it needs to be in the best state possible for your procedure: 1) so that you’re comfortable going under the knife, and 2) so that you can recover as fast as possible.

The key to proper surgery prep and comfortable surgery recovery all comes down to nourishment, which is why medical professionals are now replacing the traditional no-food-or-drink-after-midnight rule with the instructions to instead consumer a pre-op beverage like ClearFast. By working the right preop drink into your fasting before surgery routine, you can safely and properly nourish your body for surgery (and get a huge edge on recovery).

Preparing for Surgery with the ClearFast Preop Drink

By nourishing your body with the ClearFast preop drink, you reap a number of benefits that start well before you’re ever wheeled into the operating room:

Reduced Dehydration & Hunger

Dehydration before anesthesia is a recipe for disaster. Fasting before surgery the old way (no food or drink after midnight) leaves you hungry and dehydrated. Fasting before surgery with the the right preop drink, though, is a safe way to ensure your body is hydrated, nourished and in the best state possible for anesthesia. ClearFast acts as a “liquid food”, which means it provides your body all of the complex carbs and nourishment it needs for a more comfortable surgery experience.

Reduced Anxiety and Emotional Stress

Heading into surgery is never fun—especially when you’re starved and thirsty. Rich in complex carbs and free of simple sugars and colored dyes, the ClearFast preop drink works to reduce the stress and anxiety that come along with surgery. In a large controlled study, patients in the pre-op area who drank ClearFast were 5.5-6.5 times more likely to describe themselves as “comfortable” than those who underwent traditional fasting from midnight.

Easier IV “Sticks”

Hate being poked and prodded with IVs? Notice it’s often worse right before you go under the knife? That’s because dehydration leads to reduced blood flow, which can often mean multiple, painful IV sticks. Many ClearFast customers report easier, pain-free and one-time-only needle sticks as a result of using our preop drink while preparing for surgery.

Recovering from Surgery with the ClearFast Preop Drink

Not only does ClearFast set you up for success before you’re on the operating table, it also plays a major role in a smoother, faster, more comfortable recovery after surgery:

Reduced Post-Op Nausea and Vomiting

Fasting before surgery is largely responsible for the nausea and vomiting so many patients experience after undergoing anesthesia. Time and time again, ClearFast customers who, in the past experienced nausea and vomiting after waking from surgery, report that taking the ClearFast preop drink completely eliminated this problem for them.

Ready to set your body up for surgery success? Drinking ClearFast is such a simple and easy way to get a major leg up on the dreaded surgery and recovery process. Order your ClearFast Preop Drink here, or reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions about the process at all. Our goal, as always, is to help patients enter into and awake from surgery in the best, most comfortable physical and emotional state possible—we can’t wait to answer any questions you may have.

For Med Pros

Lowering Stomach Acidity and Increasing Patient Safety with Fluid Fasting

Post author By drinkcfadmin
Post date November 28, 2017
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Lowering Stomach Acidity and Increasing Patient Safety with Fluid Fasting

In recent years, an increasing number of clinical studies point to the fact that medical professionals should transition away from the traditional NPO fasting policy and instead encourage proper fluid fasting with an enhanced recovery drink. Today, we’ll cover:

The benefits of fluid fasting with carbohydrate-rich clear liquids like ClearFast as it relates to reducing gastric acidity
How ClearFast works to raise the pH in a patient’s stomach, leading to lower gastric acids and, ultimately, a reduced risk of aspiration under anesthesia
Increasing patient safety with ClearFast in place of traditional NPO fasting
Pre Op Carb Loading for enhanced recovery and reduced PONV

Now, let’s dig in…

Traditional NPO Fasting Versus Fluid Fasting: Debunking Common Misconceptions

Findings from a Cochrane Collaboration review of preoperative fasting states, “Fasting before general anaesthesia aims to reduce the volume and acidity of stomach contents during surgery, thus reducing the risk of regurgitation/aspiration.” Per this statement, we know that the goal of traditional NPO fasting is to reduce gastric contents, ultimately reducing the risk of aspiration. A misconception surrounding fluid fasting is the belief that a fluid fast increases these risks; however, findings from the Cochrane Collaboration Review debunk this common misconception. An analysis of 38 randomized controlled comparisons found “no evidence that the volume or pH of participants’ gastric contents differed significantly depending on whether the groups were permitted a shortened preoperative fluid fast or continued a standard fast.” In short, fluid fasting with traditional liquids (like coffee, water, fruit juice, etc.) prior to anesthesia, in no way, posed a risk to a patient’s safety.

Increased pH, Lower Gastric Acidity with ClearFast

Not only have recent studies shown that fluid fasting does not pose a threat to patient safety, but we’ve also learned that preparing patients for anesthesia with the right carbohydrate beverage can actually increase patient safety as compared to traditional “nothing after midnight” fasting.

Patients entering surgery after a two-bottle protocol of ClearFast have higher pH levels (and, thus, lower acidity) of stomach contents. Traditional NPO fasting caused a build up of gastric acids, with an average patient pH level of approximately 2.0. With a pH level of 4.2, ClearFast works to raise the pH in a patient’s stomach, leading to lower gastric acids and, ultimately, a reduced risk of aspiration under anesthesia.

Pre Op Carb Loading for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery

In addition to ClearFast better preparing patients for anesthesia and increasing safety during surgery, we also know that taking ClearFast as directed can lead to enhanced recovery after surgery, as well as a reduction in post op complications like PONV. In 2011, the American Society of Anesthesiologists® updated its fasting guidelines, ultimately advocating not only for pre-surgical hydration, but also nutrition (excluding fats and proteins as known retardants of normal gastric emptying), noting that patients should not be allowed to come to surgery in a hypoglycemic state. ClearFast helps patients maintain metabolic order by both hydrating and nourishing.

In addition to the AMA’s guidelines, we can look at Enhanced Recovery After Surgery or ERAS (an evidence-based program, borrowed from Europe and the UK), which lists “true pre-op carb loading” as one of the 17 key elements for perioperative patient management. The key to the pre-op carb loading element, however, is preparing patients with complex carbohydrate-rich beverages that contain primarily maltodextrins, rather than simple sugars like the fructose found in Gatorade. To these ends, ClearFast is the only domestically produced beverage of this kind (rich in maltodextrins, clear and colorless, free of simple sugars and colored dyes) used in Enhanced Recovery Protocols in luminary hospitals across the USA.

Interested in learning more about the benefits ClearFast can bring to your patients and your practice? Reach out to the ClearFast team today at support@drinkcf.com, or order ClearFast here.

Colonoscopies

Using ClearFast as Part of Your Colonoscopy Prep Procedure:

Post author By drinkcfadmin
Post date October 25, 2017
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The Power of Proper Pre-Op Hydration & Nutrition for a Better Colonoscopy Experience

Colonoscopy prep can be daunting to say the least—but it doesn’t always have to be. Today, we’re getting to the bottom of easier, less-stressful colonoscopies. In this post, we’ll cover:

Why the “no food or drink after midnight” rule is being replaced with instructions to safely nourish and hydrate before your colonoscopy
Using ClearFast as part of your colonoscopy prep to:
- Reduce dehydration before your colonoscopy
- Increase your chances of an easier IV “stick”
- Reduce Post-Op Nausea and Vomiting
- Reduce anxiety and stress before going in for your colonoscopy
How to use ClearFast before your colonoscopy

Now, let’s dig in…

With approximately 15 million colonoscopies performed in the U.S. each year, this routine procedure can often induce anxiety and cause confusion for many—especially as it relates to how to comfortably prepare for the exam and ensure a speedy return to your normal activities.

While colonoscopies certainly aren’t a walk in the park, taking the proper colonoscopy prep steps can make a world of difference in everything from pre-op stress levels to post-op recovery time and comfort. Today, then, we’re breaking down the proactive steps you can take to best prepare your body for a colonoscopy, ensuring this often-dreaded procedure is as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

Safely Hydrating and Nourishing as Part of your Colonoscopy Prep Procedure
From painful IV sticks to post-op nausea and vomiting, heading into your colonoscopy dehydrated and starved can cause a number of unpleasant side effects. While old-school thought tells us to follow the “no food or drink after midnight” rule, modern medical research and a slew of clinical studies are causing medical professionals to rethink this antiquated advice regarding fasting before surgery. We want our bodies to be as strong and healthy as possible when heading into any medical procedure, which is why safely hydrating and nourishing with the right preop drink is a key when it comes to minimizing pre-op and post-op discomfort.

The Benefits of Using ClearFast Preop Drink as Part of your Colonoscopy Prep Procedure
As an all-natural preoperative carbohydrate drink, ClearFast is rich in complex carbs, zinc, electrolytes, vitamin A, L-Citrulline and selenium—all of which play an important role in proper colonoscopy prep and enhanced recovery after surgery. The benefits of this powerful combination ensure your body is in the best state possible for anesthesia, making for:

Reduced Dehydration from the Colon prep liquid
Taking the prep liquid your doctor prescribes in order to completely flush out your bowel can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Dehydration is something you want to avoid in general, but certainly before anesthesia.

Reduced Post-Op Nausea and Vomiting
Preoperative fasting is largely responsible for the nausea and vomiting many patients experience after undergoing anesthesia. Time and time again, ClearFast customers who, in the past experienced nausea and vomiting upon waking from surgery, report that drinking ClearFast eliminated this problem for them.

Easier IV “Sticks”
Dehydration leads to reduced blood flow, which can often mean multiple, painful IV sticks. Many ClearFast customers report easier, pain-free and one-time-only needle sticks as a result of working our preop drink into their colonoscopy prep routine.

Reduced Anxiety and Emotional Stress
Heading into surgery is never fun—especially when you’re tired, starved and thirsty. Rich in complex carbs and free of simple sugars and colored dyes, ClearFast works to reduce the stress and anxiety that often accompany “going under.” In fact, in a large controlled study, patients in the pre-op area who drank ClearFast were 5.5-6.5 times more likely to describe themselves as “comfortable” than their cohorts who underwent traditional fasting from midnight.

How to Use ClearFast as Part of Your Colonoscopy Prep Procedure

Using ClearFast as part of your colonoscopy prep is safe, simple and—added bonus!—helps to makes that terrible colonoscopy prep liquid go down much smoother. The recommended protocol is four bottles of ClearFast chilled overnight, then consumed in the following manner:

First Bottle: Sip simultaneously with your colonoscopy prep liquid. “Chase” each sip of prep liquid with a sip of chilled ClearFast.
Second Bottle: Drink the night before the procedure (while in the fasting window)
Third Bottle: Finished two hours prior to the procedure
Fourth Bottle: Drink chilled, following the procedure

Ready to take proactive steps to help reduce the stress and discomfort that so often accompany colonoscopies? Order your ClearFast Preop Beverage here, or reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions at all. Our goal, as always, is to help patients everywhere enter into and awake from surgery in the best, most comfortable physical and emotional state possible—and we can’t wait to answer any questions you may have.

Preparing for Surgery

What To Look For in a Pre Surgery Drink

Post author By drinkcfadmin
Post date August 28, 2017
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When it comes to pre surgery drinks, they aren’t all created equal. Below, we’ve broken down the top three things to look for when deciding what pre surgery drink to buy:

1. L-Citrulline

Always choose a pre surgery drink that contains L-Citrulline, like ClearFast does. L-Citrulline is a healing property, and when it comes to surgery, healing is everything.

Avoid Drinks That:

– Use Arginine—while it is a healing property, it irritates the bowel and can cause diarrhea which is the last thing someone needs going into surgery!
– Don’t have any healing properties at all.

2. Complex Carbohydrates

Simple sugar carbs don’t do anything for you when it comes to pre surgery nourishment. To fight hunger and blood sugar fluctuations (infection) you need complex carbohydrates. ClearFast contains 44g of complex carbohydrates!

Avoid Drinks That:

– Use simple sugars as their “carbohydrate” such as sports drinks.

3. Delicious Flavor

Let’s be real… no one wants to drink a bottle, let alone, 3 bottles of something that tastes bad! That’s why ClearFast was formulated to not only precisely hydrate and nourish you before surgery, but to taste amazing! Our delicious White Grape and Watermelon flavors make pre surgery nutrition a lovely experience (yes, really!).

Avoid Drinks That:

– Taste Bad! You may have to have 2 – 4 bottles of a pre surgery drink. Don’t buy one that makes you struggle with each sip!

As Always – never have a pre-surgery drink that is thick, milky, contains protein, fats or simple sugars or that is colored in anyway! Wishing you great health!

Preparing for Surgery

Surgery Prep: 4 Expert Tips To Follow Before Your Procedure

Post author By drinkcfadmin
Post date June 30, 2017
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Surgery prep and going under can be daunting and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. More and more modern research teaches us that working a clear, carb-rich beverage into your surgery prep routine can increase your comfort before your surgery, increase your safety during your surgery, and lead to enhanced recovery time following your procedure. For the drink to work better and absorbed it is important to prepare it correctly and in the right crockery (in Ukrainian посуда). It all comes down to hydrating and nourishing your body before a big challenge—which is one of the best ways to ensure you go in and come out strong! To help you as your prepare for your procedure, then, we’ve rounded up our top four expert tips for proper surgery prep. Read on for four ways to make your surgery prep and surgery recovery as comfortable and painless as possible.

Get Moving
- Prepare your body for the upcoming challenge of surgery. The stronger and healthier your body is going into your procedure, the better your recovery experience will be!
- If you don’t normally exercise, start several weeks before your procedure is scheduled so that you have time to make a noticeable difference in your strength, flexibility and overall health.
Stop Smoking
- If you have a smoking habit, it’s time to quit. Smokers are at a higher risk for complications both during and after a procedure. For example – smoking weakens the immune system which can put you at risk for infection and impair wound healing
Listen Carefully & Speak Up
- Pay close attention to the instructions your physicians give you. This isn’t a situation where you want to be feeling unsure.
- Unanswered questions can increase your anxiety. Your physician has probably done this more times than they can count, but it’s all new to you. Don’t be shy about understanding your procedure.
- Answer questions honestly about medical history and about your current health (ie. if you come down with a fever the day before your procedure). Keeping information hidden to avoid a canceled surgery can put you at risk.
Hydrate & Nourish – Here’s where we come in! Hydrate and nourish your body with ClearFast during the “fasting window.”
- Hydrating with ClearFast makes it easier to place an IV. The nurse won’t have to poke your arm over and over trying to find a vein!
- Nourishing with complex carbs lets you go into surgery strong! Starving your body can cause complications that slow down your recovery or even send you back to the hospital. For example – high blood sugar levels caused by starvation put you at a high risk for infection. Starving your body also increases the acids in your stomach which are dangerous if you aspirate them during surgery.
- Make sure to finish your last bottle at least 2 hours before your surgery (if you have gastroparesis, consult your doctor).

For Med Pros

Pre Surgery Carbohydrate Nutrition

Post author By drinkcfadmin
Post date June 22, 2017
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When it comes to carbohydrate loading and enhanced recovery, preparing patients with a complex-carb rich, clear preop drink like ClearFast has been shown to not only reduce muscle breakdown, but lower infection rates. You need warmth to help your muscles relax quickly and a warm decken plaid is best.

Starved patients are much more likely to experience insulin resistance (higher chance of SSI) and muscle breakdown which can cause readmissions and increased costs to health service providers.

The ASER and POQI joint consensus statement on perioperative fluid management within an enhanced recovery pathway for colorectal surgery concludes, “Inclusion of carbohydrates in preoperative oral fluids is likely to improve insulin sensitivity (particular when complex carbohydrates are used) and may reduce protein catabolism.”

To read the full article, click here

Uncategorized

Preoperative Carbohydrate Drink for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery

Post author By drinkcfadmin
Post date June 14, 2017
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When it comes to enhanced recovery after surgery, one of the major pillars of any ERAS is a clear, complex carb rich preop beverage that nourishes and hydrates patients in the immediate preop. Carbohydrate loading patients with a preoperative carbohydrate drink like ClearFast reduces the chance postop insulin resistance, thereby improving recovery and shortening length of stay. For the drink to work and be absorbed better, it is important that the patient be warm and comfortable. You can do this by wrapping yourself in a warm rug (плед in Ukrainian) or a blanket to keep you warm.

In “Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: A Review,” Doctors Ljungqvist, Scott, and Fearon elaborate:

“Enhanced Recovery After Surgery programs typically contain several elements with 1 emphasis in common: they minimize stress and improve the response to stress. By maintaining homeostasis, the patient avoids catabolism with consequent loss of protein, muscle strength, and cellular dysfunction. The reduction of insulin resistance promotes adequate cellular function during injury to the tissue. The following series of elements contributes to this goal: preoperative nutritional support for the patient who is malnourished, carbohydrate loading before surgery to minimize postoperative insulin resistance, epidural or spinal analgesia to reduce the endocrine stress response, anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the inflammatory response, early feeding after surgery to secure energy intake, and optimal pain control to avoid stress and insulin resistance.”

Read the full JAMA Surgery ERAS Review here.

Uncategorized

Benefits of Reducing Pre Surgery Fasting

Post author By drinkcfadmin
Post date December 20, 2016
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ClearFast applauds Doctor De Jonghe and his co-investigators on their recently published manuscript entitled “Reducing pre-operative fasting while preserving operating room scheduling flexibility: feasibility and impact on patient discomfort”, Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 2016. This study is a novel effort to reconcile some of the now well-recognized benefits of pre-operative oral carbohydrate loading (with ample complex carbohydrates) with the practical flexibility needs of busy ORs around the world. While the authors fully recognized some of the shortcomings of their study, including a lack of randomization and various “organizational constraints”, their message was clear: the need to reduce the duration of the traditional pre-op liquid fast with appropriate true carbohydrate-rich beverages is no longer debatable… it is a mandate!

Of note, in the “CHO Group”, the percentage of patients actually receiving the drink preceding operations scheduled at 10:00 or later was similar for inpatients and outpatients. However, that was clearly not the case for surgeries scheduled before 10 am. Patients were deprived of the drink 100% of the time if they were admitted on the day of surgery for procedures scheduled at that time or earlier. Conversely, 89.5% of their in-house counterparts were “carb-loaded” for operations scheduled for the same time. The explanation for this discrepancy appears procedural and systematic: possibly for standardization purposes, the drink was re-constituted from a powder, not by the patients, but by respective hospital staff members who diluted one sachet “in 400 ml of water in a graduated shaker.” Unfortunately, “organizational constraints” apparently prohibited such mixing and delivering to those arriving so early on the day of surgery. This bias dramatically impacted that statistic.

Perhaps, the overall outcomes might have been significantly influenced by the use of a pre-mixed carb-rich beverage, such as ClearFast®. Some of the obvious advantages would include simplicity of the delivery system, reliable standardization of the product volume and mixture and expedited refrigeration, if desired. It would allow for early and convenient distribution to patients – days to weeks prior to the date of surgery, thus facilitating consumption by a greater number of candidates, potentially resulting in fasting times closer to the proposed 3-hour window. As the authors suggest in their discussion, “The opportunity for these patients to consume the CHO drink before arriving to the hospital warrants further consideration.”

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