Residual Gastric Content After Holding of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Before Elective Surgery

"Using a curved array low-frequency abdominal probe (2-5 MHz) with abdominal presets and with the patient in right lateral decubitus position, the gastric antrum will be identified in a standardized plane at the level of the aorta. The stomach will be considered empty if the antrum appears flat or round with anterior and posterior walls collapsed. Normal gastric secretions and clear fluids have an anechoic or hypoechoic aspect on ultrasonography. Solid or thick fluids have a hyperechoic aspect and can create ring-down artifacts blurring gastric content, its posterior wall, the pancreas and the aorta. Following qualitative examination, quantitative assessment will be performed if there is presence of clear fluids. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the antrum will be measured with three measurements to calculate a mean value."