• Feyza Sever, Sengül Özmert, and Selim Dereci.
• Anesthesiology and Reanimation Department, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
• Paediatr Anaesth. 2024 Jun 1; 34 (6): 532537532-537.

Background/AimsPulmonary aspiration of gastric content is a serious perioperative complication. The objective of this prospective study was to assess the relationship between the gastric volumes suctioned endoscopically and quantitative (antral cross-section area) and qualitative (empty vs. nonempty) examination of the gastric antrum. Furthermore, the study aimed to determine the best antral cross-section area cutoff value for a truly empty antrum in infants.MethodsThis study was performed in a pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy unit. Antral sonography was performed in supine and right lateral decubitus positions in 46 fasted infants prior to upper gastrointestinal endoscopic evaluation. Antral cross-sectional area measurements in both positions and qualitative evaluation of the antrum (according to a three-point grading system) were recorded. Gastric contents were endoscopically suctioned and measured.ResultsForty-six patients (aged under 24 months) were included. According to the three-point qualitative grading system, 76.1% of patients were classified as grade 0. The best cutoff value for the antral cross-section area in the right lateral decubitus position, indicating an empty antrum, was determined to be 2.40 cm2. At this specific cutoff value, the sensitivity was 100%, the specificity was 68.6%, and the negative predictive value was 100%.ConclusionsGastric ultrasonography can confirm an empty or nearly empty stomach in healthy infants.© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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