Gastric ultrasound for perioperative prandial status

Abstract

Gastric ultrasound is a valuable tool for real-time assessment of gastric content at the bedside, reducing the risk of pulmonary aspiration. A good understanding of the gastric sonoanatomy and techniques for image acquisition will allow the clinician to utilize ultrasound to assess gastric content and volume via qualitative and quantitativeassessment to risk stratify their patient prior to the surgery. We describe the core principles of gastric ultrasound and its practical implications on patient safety during the perioperative period.