Outcomes of Early Versus Delayed Oral Feeding After Cesarean Section in Korle-bu Teaching Hospital

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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study compares the outcomes of feeding mothers early (4 hours ) after cesarean section compared to delayed feeding (on post operation day 1) in terms of gastrointestinal function and maternal satisfaction with the feeding schedule.

Detailed Description
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patients who are scheduled to undergo elective cesarean section are randomised to two groups, one group will be allowed to feed 4 hours after cesarean section while the other group will be fed traditionally by feeding on the first post op day. gastrointestinal signs and symptoms will be measured such as post operative ileus, vomiting, nausea, abdminal distension. other parameters to be measured include time to ambulate out of bed after surgery, time to start breastfeeding after surgery. satisfaction with both feeding regimes will be assessed after surgery and the incedence of wound infecion will be compared between the two groups after two weeks durung the post natal review.

Official Title
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Outcomes of Early Versus Delayed Oral Feeding After Elective Cesarean Section in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana.

Conditions
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Cesarean Section Complications

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: early feeding
* Procedure: delayed feeding


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Uncomplicated elective Cesarean sections performed under regional anaesthesia without extensive intra operative bowel adhesions. Women who give consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: Elective Cesarean sections complicated by severe haemorrhage, bowel injury requiring bowel manipulation, repair, resection and anastomosis or colostomy. Women who require a Cesarean hysterectomy. Women who require a Post-partum hysterectomy. Mothers with severe pre-eclampsia. Mothers with sickle cell disease. Mothers with pregestational or gestational diabetes. Mothers who have been scheduled for Cesarean section and require general anaesthesia. Women who have had a previous laparotomy other than a Cesarean section.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Maximum Age: 49 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: early feeding<br>patients undergoing elective cesarean section will be allowed to feed (sips) four hours after cesarean section. | Procedure: early feeding<br>* start oral sips four hours after cesarean section<br>|
| Active Comparator: delayed feeding<br>patients undergoing elective cesarean section will be allowed to feed on post operation day 1 (12 hours post op). | Procedure: delayed feeding<br>* start oral feeding on post operation day 1 (>12hours) after surgery<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| post-operative ileus | onset of vomiting >4 times per day | within 3 days after surgery | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Crampy abdominal pain | abdominal pain after feeding following cesarean section | within 3 days after surgery | 
| Time of initiation of breastfeeding post operatively | time it takes to start breastfeeding after cesrean section | within 3 days after surgery | 
| Woman's satisfaction | measure level of satisfaction with feeding regime using an assessment scoring tool. this is in the form of a questionair adminstered to the client by the investigator. | within 3 days after surgery | 
| Time of ambulation out of bed after surgery | time it takes for the mother to get out of bed and sit up or mobilize | within 3 days after surgery | 
| Incedence of a wound infection | measure of the presence of wound infection in both arms on day of discharge and 2 weeks post discharge | within 2 weeks of surgery | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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post-operative ileus, early feeding, delayed feeding