Ultrasonographic estimation of preoperative gastric volume in patients following overnight fasting and those allowed oral fluids until 2 hours before surgery

PULMONARY ASPIRATION OF GASTRIC CONTENTS IS ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS OF ANAESTHESIA, ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY. IT CAN RESULT IN SEVERE PNEUMONIA REQUIRING MECHANICAL VENTILATOR SUPPORT IN ONE THIRD OF PATIENTS. EXTRAPOLATION OF PREVIOUS STUDIES REPORTED THAT CRITICAL VOLUME FOR SEVERE ASPIRATION IN ADULT HUMANS COULD BE BETWEEN 25-50 ML(0.4-0.8ML/KG). THEREFORE IT WOULD OF INTEREST TO PERFORM AN EASY NON INVASIVE BEDSIDE TEST TO HELP THE PHYSICIAN IN THE ASSESSMENT OF VOLUME OF GASTRIC CONTENTS. WITH THE ADVENT OF PORTABLE ULTRASOUND MACHINE, GASTRIC ULTRASOUND IS FINDING A PLACE AS A POINT-OF-CARE TOOL FOR ASPIRATION RISK ASSESSMENT. VARIOUS PREVIOUS STUDIES PERFORMED ON VOLUNTEERS SUGGESTED THAT THE MEASUREMENT OF ANTRAL CROSS SECTIONAL AREA IS A USEFUL NON INVASIVE TEST TO DETERMINE GASTRIC CONTENTS AND VOLUME. HENCE THIS PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY WILL BE CONDUCTED TO EVALUATE THE VOLUME OF GASTRIC CONTENTS IN PATIENTS FOLLOWING OVERNIGHT FASTING AND THOSE ALLOWED ORAL FLUIDS UNTIL 2 HOURS BEFOERE ELECTIVE SURGERY AS ASSESSED BY ULTRASONOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT OF ANTRAL AREA.