Gastric fluid measurement by blind aspiration in paediatric patients: A gastroscopic evaluation

Purpose: Numerous investigators have estimated gastric fluid volume using blind aspiration through multi-orificed catheters, but none have confirmed the validity of this technique in infants and children. We sought validate the accuracy of this technique in a fasted paediatric population by using gastroscopy. Data from several studies were. then combined to generate a gastric fluid volume frequency distribution for healthy paediatric patients faced for surgery. Methods: This is a prospective study of 17 patients aged six months to 11 yr who underwent elective upper endoscopy at a paediatric teaching hospital, Gastric contents were aspirated blindly with a syringe and a 16 or 18F multi-orificed orogastric tube, and the volume of gastric contents removed in the supine and decubitus positions was measured. Residual gastric fluid was aspirated-using an endoscope. Data from 611 infants and children enrolled in previously published studies utilizing the same blind aspiration technique were pooled and a gastric fluid volume frequency distribution was created. Results: Blind aspiration removed 97 +/- 8% of the total gastric fluid volume, In 661 children presenting for elective surgery, the gastric fluid volume was 0.40 +/- 0.45 ml . kg(-1). Median volume was 0.27 ml . kg(-1), with the 95%ile at 1.25 ml . kg(-1) and an upper limit of 4.1 ml . kg(-1). Conclusion: Blind aspiration of gastric contents accurately estimates gastric fluid volume for paediatric patients fasted for surgery, Population estimates for gastric fluid volume in otherwise healthy fasted paediatric patients are shown.