Gastric US in ICU Patient

Gastric Ultrasound in Critically Ill Patients for Evaluation of Gastric Volume Residuals; A Comparison of NPO Protocols

This is a case series study using gastric ultrasound in critically ill patients to quantify gastric residual volumes to compare the efficacy of different NPO protocols.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients age 18 or older, admitted to the ICU, requiring general anesthesia or sedation for a procedure with a pre-existing, cuffed endotracheal or tracheostomy tube. Most patients admitted to the ICU would be unable to consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known upper gastrointestinal anatomical problem that would prevent accurate estimation of gastric volume, gastric perforation, pregnancy beyond the first trimester.
• Lack of a pre-existing, cuffed endotracheal or tracheostomy tube.