title: Comparison of preoperative gastric contents and serum gastrin concentrations in pregnant and nonpregnant women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the volume and the pH level of preoperative gastric contents and serum gastrin concentrations between pregnant and nonpregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective controlled study was conducted in a single blind manner.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred pregnant women scheduled for elective cesarean delivery (pregnant group) and 100 nonpregnant women who underwent gynecologic surgery (nonpregnant group) were enrolled.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gastric content was aspirated gently with 14-F multiorificed nasogastric tube before the induction of anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The volume and the pH level of the aspirated gastric contents were measured, and serum gastrin concentration was measured by the double antibody gastrin method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gastric volume in the pregnant group was greater than in the nonpregnant group (0.49 +/- 0.4 vs 0.24 +/- 0.2 mL/kg, P < .05). The gastric pH level in the pregnant group was lower than in the nonpregnant group (2.4 +/- 1.4 vs 3.0 +/- 1.9, P < .05). The number of patients at risk was 45 (45.5%) in the pregnant group and 16 (16.7%) in the nonpregnant group (P < .05). The serum gastrin levels of the 2 groups were not significantly different (32.1 +/- 12.3 vs 28.2 +/- 8.3 pg/mL). The preoperative anxiety level of the pregnant group was higher than in the nonpregnant group (4.4 +/- 2.1 vs 3.8 +/- 2.2, P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirmed that pregnant women have much greater and more acidic gastric contents than the nonpregnant patients preoperatively, and it is not because of serum gastrin concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Samsung Cheil Hospital, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 100-380, South Korea. jenyhong@samsung.co.kr
authors.forename: Jeong-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jung Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jong In
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry*; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins