• Marc Sherwin, Joshua Hamburger, Daniel Katz, and Samuel DeMaria.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L., Levy Place, Box 1010, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
• Can J Anaesth. 2023 Aug 1; 70 (8): 130013061300-1306.

PurposeGlucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have become increasingly popular as both diabetic and weight loss therapies. One effect of this class of medication is delayed gastric emptying, which may impact the risk of aspiration during anesthesia delivery.MethodsIn this prospective study, we used gastric ultrasound to evaluate the presence of solid gastric contents in both supine and lateral positions after an eight-hour fast in those taking GLP-1RA compared with controls. Participants underwent a second ultrasound evaluation two hours later after drinking 12 fluid ounces of water (approximately 350 mL).ResultsTwenty adults voluntarily enrolled, giving a total of ten participants in each group. In the supine position, 70% of semaglutide participants and 10% of control participants had solids present on gastric ultrasound (risk ratio [RR], 3.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26 to 9.65; P = 0.02.) In the lateral position, 90% of semaglutide participants and 20% of control participants had solids identified on gastric ultrasound (RR, 7.36; 95% CI, 1.13 to 47.7; P = 0.005). Two hours after drinking clear liquids, the two groups did not differ in the lateral position, but in the supine position, 90% of control group participants were rated as empty compared with only 30% of semaglutide group participants (P = 0.02).ConclusionsThis study provides preliminary evidence that GLP-1RAs may affect gastric emptying and residual gastric contents following an overnight fast and two hours after clear liquids, which may have implications for aspiration risk during anesthetic care.© 2023. Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.

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