Bedside ultrasound assessment of gastric content in children noncompliant with preoperative fasting guidelines: Is it time to include this in our practice?

Ultrasound assessment of gastric contents and volume is gaining popularity in adults and children. At present, a preoperative verbal check is used to determine the fasting status. Due to fear of delay or cancellation of surgery, parents may not disclose noncompliance with fasting guidelines. Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is a potential cause of morbidity and mortality. Ultrasound assessment of gastric contents is noninvasive and easy to learn. We present a series of three cases to demonstrate how the use of ultrasound to assess gastric contents in children can provide an objective means for decision-making and impact anesthetic management when preoperative fasting status is uncertain.