Studies of gastric content: comparison of two methods.
In 20 patients studied under general anaesthesia, we found good agreement between gastric fluid volumes aspirated blindly and total volumes determined by fibreoptic gastroscopy (mean under-estimation 6 ml (22%); range 0-50 ml). Gastric fluid acidity measurements using an electronic pH meter and pH indicator paper also provided results with good agreement (mean difference in pH 0.1; range -0.3 to 0.5). As the use of a standardized blind gastric aspiration technique and pH indicator paper is simpler and provided sufficiently accurate measurements for clinical study purposes, we think this method is preferable.
Søreide
E
E
Department of Anaesthesia, Rogaland Central Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
Søreide
J A
JA
Holst-Larsen
H
H
Steen
P A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry*; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000517:prevention & control; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods