Gastric ultrasonography in the setting of gastric distention and bowel obstruction : to place or not to place a nasogastric tube? A case report

摘要

Pulmonary aspiration remains a potential complication of airway management in general anesthesia. The risk is greater in emergency cases, with higher morbidity and mortality rates. Although rapid sequence induction and intubation is common practice for securing a patient's airway, a distended stomach due to delayed or impaired gastric emptying puts the patient at risk for pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents. In the present case report, we illustrate how bedside gastric ultrasonography can help to manage a patient with a distended stomach and aid in the decision whether a gastric decompression prior to induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation should be performed.