Abstract
Two methods used to measure the volume of gastric contents were evaluated in 24 supine anaesthetized adults. Methods compared were: (1) aspiration of stomach contents through a large, vented, multi-orificed gastric tube, and (2) indirect determination by a dye dilution method using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the marker. The volumes determined by these methods (Vasp and Vpag respectively) were compared to the total volume (Vtot) present in the stomach, determined by direct inspection of the gastric pouch by the surgeon at the beginning of surgery. The results show that the volume of aspirated gastric fluid, using this type of tube, is a very good estimate of the total volume of gastric residue. The PEG dilution method yields similar results. However, correlation between Vpeg and Vtot was not as close-fitting as the correlation between Vasp and Vtot. PEG dilution is more complicated, time-consuming and offers no advantage over aspiration.
Résumé
Cette étude avait pour but de valider, chez ľadulte anesthésié en décubitus dorsal, deux méthodes de mesure du volume du résidu gastrique couramment disponibles en clinique. Il s’agit de 1) ľaspiration directe du contenu gastrique avec une sonde de gros calibre, ventilée et pouvue ďorifices multiples, et de 2) la mesure indirecte du volume gastrique par dilution de ľindicateur polyéthylène glycol (PEG). Les volumes mesurés par ces deux méthodes étaient comparés au volume absolu présent dans ľestomac déterminé par inspection directe au début de la laparotomie. Nos résultats démontrent que le volume mesuré par aspiration directe, lorsque ľon utilise ce type de sonde, est une bonne évaluation du volume du contenu liquide de ľestomac, le sous-estimant ďenviron 4 ml. La méthode utilisant la dilution du PEG fournit également des résultats satisfaisants. La technique est cependant plus compliquée, nécessite la collaboration du laboratoire, et n’offre aucun avantage sur ľaspiration directe.
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Presented in part at the Canadian Anaesthetists’ Society annual meeting in Montreal, June 1986.
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Hardy, JF., Plourde, G., Lebrun, M. et al. Determining gastric contents during general anaesthesia: evaluation of two methods. Can J Anaesth 34, 474–477 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03014353
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03014353