Vial F, Hime N, Feugeas J, Thilly N, Guerci P, Bouaziz H. Ultrasound assessment of gastric content in the immediate postpartum period: a prospective observational descriptive study.
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2017;
61:730-739. [PMID:
28653359 DOI:
10.1111/aas.12930]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents in pregnant women undergoing general anesthesia or sedation/analgesia in the peripartum period is a feared complication in obstetric anesthesia. We assessed the changes in antral cross-sectional area (CSA) with ultrasonography in laboring women and in the immediate postpartum period.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
In an observational study in a university-affiliated maternity, gastric ultrasonography examinations were performed in non-consecutive laboring women, after epidural analgesia insertion and after childbirth. Assessment of antral CSA, difficulty of performance on a numerical scale, and factors that could influence gastric content were noted. A cut-off value of 381 mm2 was taken for the diagnosis of empty stomach.
RESULTS
One hundred women were enrolled in the study. Median antral CSA was 469 mm2 [25th-75th] [324-591] after epidural insertion and 427 mm2 [316-574] after delivery. Antral CSA was ≥ 381 mm2 in 59 of 90 women (65%) after epidural insertion vs. 48 of 100 women (48%) after delivery (P = 0.59). Median variation of antral CSA between two measurements was 36 mm2 [-42 to 114]. Gastric ultrasonography was significantly more difficult to perform during labor than immediately post-delivery (median difficulty score 5 [2-7] vs. 2 [1-4], P < 0.0001). No risk factors (pain, anxiety, diabetes, smoking) were significantly associated with the occurrence of full stomach post-delivery.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that 48% of parturients in the immediate postpartum period presented an antral CSA ≥ 381 mm2 , cut-off being accepted for diagnosis of empty stomach and emphasizes the need for re-assessing before any general anesthetic procedure.
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