Comparison of Fasting Gastric Volume Using Ultrasound in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Elderly Patients Undergoing Staged Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Observational Study

Aspiration of gastric contents during perioperative period is a grave complication with significant morbidity and mortality. Diabetic patients have a higher incidence of autonomic dysfunction, causing gastropathy. They are known to have gastroparesis and the consequent delayed gastric emptying which predisposes them to an increased risk of aspiration than the general population. Furthermore, other common factors can influence the gastric emptying rate, as for example, old age, pain, and the use of opioid analgesics.

In the previous study, evidence of increased pain was reported in patients undergoing staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty, in whom the second operated knee had greater sensitivity (tertiary hyperalgesia) due to the surgical injury to the first operated knee.

In the present study, we will evaluate the effect of old age, diabetes, surgical stress, pain, and the use of analgesics on the residual gastric volume in elderly patients undergoing staged-bilateral total knee arthroplasty.