Can Gastric Volume be Accurately Estimated by Ultrasound?

Endoscopic assessment of gastric emptying in older adults after preoperative administration of 5% glucose solution: a randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

Delayed gastric emptying of liquids may heighten the risk of aspiration reflux in elderly individuals. To investigate the gastric emptying of an oral supplement containing 5% dextrose solutions before sedation for gastroscopy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 100 elderly patients who were scheduled for elective gastroscopy were randomly assigned to two groups: the NPO(nil per os ) group and the dextrose solution ingestion group, which ingested a 5% dextrose solution (5 ml/kg) two hours before the procedure. The primary outcome measure was the gastric volume (GV) suctioned and measured during the gastroscopic examination. Secondary outcome measures included GV per weight (GV/kg), post-discharge blood glucose levels, patient discomfort assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), clarity of gastric mucosal visualization during gastroscopy, and the incidence of adverse events. Additionally, linear regression analysis was employed to identify factors influencing gastric volume.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in gastric volume (GV) (P=0.258) and GV per weight (GV/W) (P=0.137) between the NPO group and the dextrose solution group. However,the NPO group had higher discomfort scores on the Visual Analog Scale compared to the dextrose solution group, with a statistically significant difference(P<0.001). The clarity of gastric mucosal visualization during gastroscopy was also significantly different between the two groups(P=0.038). Blood glucose levels and the incidence of adverse events showed no significant differences between the two groups.Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that younger age and higher functional dyspepsia symptom diary (FDSD) scores were associated with larger gastric volume, with the regression equation being: GV = 79.922 - 1.186 × age + 0.556 × FDSD.

CONCLUSION

In elderly patients, drinking 5 ml/kg of a 5 % glucose solution two hours prior to gastroscopy does not significantly increase gastric volume compared to midnight fasting.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2100047031 (date of registration: 7 June 2021).

Role of Point-of-Care Gastric Ultrasound in Advancing Perioperative Fasting Guidelines

Pulmonary aspiration in the perioperative period carries the risk of significant morbidity and mortality. As such, guidelines have been developed with the hopes of minimizing this risk by recommending fasting from solids and liquids over a specified amount of time. Point-of-care ultrasound has altered the landscape of perioperative medicine; specifically, gastric ultrasound plays a pivotal role in perioperative assessment. Further, the advent of glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists, the widespread use of cannabis, and Enhanced Recovery program carbohydrate beverage presents new challenges when attempting to standardize fasting guidelines. This review synthesizes the literature surrounding perioperative fasting guidelines specifically with regard to the use of point-of-care ultrasound in assessing for gastric contents and minimizing the risk of aspiration.

Effects of ultrasound monitoring of gastric residual volume on feeding complications, caloric intake and prognosis of patients with severe mechanical ventilation

BACKGROUND

Monitoring of gastric residual is an important approach for assessing gastric emptying in patients with mechanical ventilation. By monitoring gastric contents, the enteral nutrition scheme can be adjusted in time to ensure feeding safety.

AIM

To investigate the effects of ultrasound monitoring on the incidence of feeding complications, daily caloric intake and prognosis of patients with severe mechanical ventilation. To analyze the clinical significance of ultrasound monitoring of gastric residual volume (GRV) up to 250 mL to provide a theoretical basis for clinical practice.

METHODS

Patients admitted to the department of emergency medicine of the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2018 to June 2022 who received invasive mechanical ventilation and continuous enteral nutrition support within 24-48 h after admission were enrolled in this study. Medical records for patients within 7 d of hospitalization were retrospectively analyzed to compare the incidence of feeding complications, daily caloric intake and clinical prognosis between patients with gastric residual ≥ 250 mL and < 250 mL, as monitored by ultrasound on the third day.

RESULTS

A total of 513 patients were enrolled in this study. Incidences of abdominal distension, diarrhea, and vomiting in the < 250 mL and ≥ 250 mL groups were: 18.4% vs 21.0%, 23.9% vs 32.3% and 4.0% vs 6.5%, respectively; mortality rates were 20.8% vs 22.65%; mechanical ventilation durations were 18.30 d vs 17.56 d while lengths of stay in the intensive care units (ICU) were 19.87 d vs 19.19 ± 5.19 d. Differences in the above factors between groups were not significant. Gastric residual ≥ 250 mL was not an independent risk factor for death and prolonged ICU stay. However, target feeding time of patients in the ≥ 250 mL group was longer than that of patients in the ≥ 250 mL group, and caloric intake (22.0, 23.6, 24.8, 25.3 kcal/kg/d) for patients in the ≥ 250 mL group from the 4^th day to the 7^th day of hospitalization was lower than that of patients in the ≥ 250 mL group (23.2, 24.8, 25.7, 25.8 kcal/kg/d). On the 4^th day (Z = 4.324, P = 0.013), on the 5^th day (Z = 3.376, P = 0.033), while on the 6^th day (Z = 3.098, P = 0.04), the differences were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The use of ultrasound to monitor GRV and undertaking clinical interventions when the monitoring value is ≥ 250 mL has no significant effects on incidences of feeding complications and clinical prognostic outcomes, however, it significantly prolongs the time to reach target feeding, reduces the daily intake of calories during ICU hospitalization, and increases the risk of insufficient nutrition of patients. The accuracy and necessity of monitoring gastric remnants and monitoring frequencies should be investigated further.