Ultrasound Assessment of Gastric Residual Volume in Obese Patients

Focused gastric ultrasound was performed in semi-sitting position then right lateral position mindray curved transducer for examination of abdomen with low frequency (2-5 MHz) by a trained physician. The antrum of the stomach was located in the epigastrium after a sweep of the probe from left to right subcostal margins. This could be done using left lobe of liver as an anterior landmark and descending abdominal aorta as a posterior landmark

Nasogastric tube (18-french) was inserted after induction of anaesthesia and endotracheal intubation. Aspiration of gastric contents was performed through gentle suction using 50 ml syringe with synchronous epigastric massage and gentle movement of nasogastric tube in and out for 10 minutes after confirmation of nasogastric tube position.