Preoperative fasting regimens designed to minimise the risk of pulmonary aspiration have undergone significant changes, but unequivocal evidence of the safety of reducing clear fluid fasting has been lacking. We compared the risk of pulmonary aspiration in children using three different recommendations for clear fluid fasting. In this prospective multicentre cohort study, centres with >1000 paediatric anaesthesia cases per year were eligible. Regurgitation events, whether they were transient or led to consequences affecting postoperative care, were reported in detail. All centres also reported the number of anaesthetised children per year and which preoperative fasting regimen they used. The 31 participating centres contributed a total of 306 900 anaesthetic procedures. The incidence of confirmed pulmonary aspiration was 1.18:10 000 in the sip-til-send group, 0.96:10 000 in the ≥1 h group, and 1.83:10 000 in the control group. There was no mortality as a result of aspiration. The 95% confidence intervals of the differences in confirmed pulmonary aspiration between the control group and the ≥1 h clear fluid fasting and the sip-til-send group were -0.344 to 3.76 and -1.48 to 3.63, respectively. Both sip-til-send and ≥1 h clear fluid fasting were statistically noninferior to ≥2 h clear fluid fasting regarding the incidence of confirmed aspiration, transient regurgitation, and regurgitation leading to escalation of care or intensive care. The study provides evidence for the safety of reducing preoperative fasting time for clear fluids in children aged <16 yr from 2 h to ≤1 h.

Background: Latin America comprises an extensive and diverse territory composed of 33 countries in the Caribbean, Central, and South America where Romance languages–languages derived from Latin are predominantly spoken. Economic disparities exist, with inequitable access to pediatric surgical care. The Latin American Surgical Outcomes Study in Pediatrics (LASOS‐Peds), a multi‐national collaboration, will determine safety of pediatric anesthesia and perioperative care.Objective: Below, we provide a descriptive initiative to share how pediatric anesthesia in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico operate. Theses descriptions do not represent all of Latin America.Descriptions and Conclusions: Brazil an upper middle‐income country, population 203 million, has a public system insufficiently resourced and a private system, resulting in inequitable safety and accessibility. Surgical complications constitute the third leading cause of mortality. Anesthesiology residency is 3 years, with required rotations in pediatric anesthesia; five hospitals offer pediatric anesthesia fellowships. Anesthesiology is a physician‐only practice. A Pediatric Anesthesia Committee within the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology offers education through seasonal courses and workshops including pediatric advanced life support. Chile is a high‐income country, population 19.5 million, the majority cared for in the public system, the remainder in university, private, or military systems. Government efforts have gradually corrected the long‐standing anesthesiology shortage: twenty 3‐year residency programs prepare graduates for routine pediatric cases. The Chilean Society of Anesthesiology runs a 1‐month program for general anesthesiologists to enhance pediatric anesthesia skills. Pediatric anesthesia fellowship training occurs in Europe, USA, and Australia, or in two 2‐year Chilean university programs. Public health policies have increased the medical and surgical pediatric specialists and general anesthesiologists, but not pediatric anesthesiologists, which creates safety concerns for neonates, infants, and medically complex. Chile needs more pediatric anesthesia fellowship programs. Mexico, an upper middle‐income country, with a population of about 126 million, has a five‐sector healthcare system: public, social security for union workers, state for public employees, armed forces for the military, and a private “self‐pay.” There are inequities in safety and accessibility for children. Pediatric Anesthesiology fellowship is 2 years, after 3 years residency. A shortage of pediatric anesthesiologists limits accessibility and safety for surgical care, driven by added training at low salary and hospital under appreciation. The Mexican Society of Pediatric Anesthesiology conducts refresher courses, workshops, and case conferences. Insufficient resources and culture limits research.