Intra- and Interrater Reliability of Ultrasound Assessment of Gastric Volume

Abstract

Ultrasound assessment of gastric volume by clinical anesthesiologists is highly reproducible with high intrarater and interrater reliability. The free-tracing method to measure antral cross-sectional area is equivalent to the two-diameter method.

Qualitative and quantitative ultrasound assessment of gastric content

“…Volume/Weight method of assessing the gastric volume has proven to be reproducible and has little variability either when assessed by a single or multiple evaluators. 43 The results were also shown to be equivalent with another assessment method that takes a dimensional measurement using the device's software, and this is not based on the assumption that the gastric antrum is a perfect ellipse. 14,22,36,43 The method can predict volumes of 0 to 500 mL and is applicable to adult patients with a BMI less than 40 kg/cm 2 .…”

Point-of-care ultrasound defines gastric content and changes the anesthetic management of elective surgical patients who have not followed fasting instructions: a prospective case series

“…21 Point-of-care gastric ultrasound is a valid and reliable tool to define aspiration risk at the bedside prior to induction of anesthesia. [11][12][13][14]16,22 Bedside ultrasound examination provides information about the type of gastric content (empty, clear fluids vs solids) (Fig. 1) and its volume, thus suggesting the level of aspiration risk (Fig.…”

“…The scanning protocol and the reporting method used have been well described and validated and can be readily learned and applied. 11,12,14,27 The post-test patient management strategy represents ''true'' patient management and not ''ideal'' patient management based on an algorithm. The attending anesthesiologists (and not study investigators) had full discretion and control over patient care decisions and were not ''bound'' by the test result or a strict algorithm.…”

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16] The aim of this prospective case series was to evaluate if the addition of point-of-care gastric ultrasound to standard patient assessment alters the stratification of aspiration risk and leads to changes in the anesthetic management of elective surgical patients who did not follow fasting instructions.…”

Through a glass darkly - ultrasound imaging in obstetric anaesthesia

“…A potential criticism of ultrasound scanning is subjectivity in drawing conclusions. However, this has been assessed in pregnant and non-pregnant populations, with reassuring results [35].…”