Fig. 1. The frequency of adverse reactions (vomiting and nausea, skin allergies, and unconsciousness) is shown in Figure 1.
There was no statistically significant difference in the adverse events between those who fasted vs those who didn’t before the procedure (P>0.05).
Discussion:
Intravenous fluorescein angiography is increasingly being used to diagnose different retinal conditions [7]. The overall complication rate for the fasting group was 12.49% compared to 14.15% in the non-fasting group. it is to be noted that the difference in the complication is due to the difference in mild complication in these two populations while the moderate and severe complication in these two populations is not clinically significant. According to Oliver R. Marmoy, Robert H. Henderson, and Kuan Ooi, a patient who has had only a light breakfast without lunch before the oral FFA procedure is more effective and safer [8].
Also, when we compare the complication rate in patient with systemic disease (diabetics, hypertension) the mild, moderate, and severe complication is 8.49%, 0.94%, and nil respectively in the population(n=73) who had breakfast immediately before the procedure while the population (n=59) who has undergone FFA in the empty stomach has the mild, moderate and severe complication of 3.92%, 0.98%, 0.98% respectively. Here also the mild complication rate is higher in patients who had breakfast before the procedure, while the moderate to severe complication rate is clinically insignificant. Fayyaz Musa,1 Wisam J. Muen found no Adverse effects of fluorescein angiography in hypertensive and elderly patients, [9]
Since the mild complication in these two populations has nausea and vomiting only and is temporary, it is safe to perform FFA in patients who had a light breakfast before the procedure. Also, a history of any systemic disease which is under control with medications has comparable adverse effects in these two populations.
Conclusions:
We conclude that FFA is a relatively safe procedure that yields important diagnostic information which might ultimately have a positive impact on the patient’s quality of life. FFA should not be postponed on the basis of whether the patient was empty stomach or not. Systemic illness as these factors, not adverse reactions in FFA procedures both groups had complication rate are same which is not clinically significant in this study.
Conflicts of interest:
The authors have no conflict of interest.
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