Clinical Research Directory

Comparison of Gastric Volume Changes After Ventilation With Endotraceal Tube, First Generation Supraglottic Airway and Second Generation Supraglottic Airway in Pediatric Patients

This study aims to compare the gastric volumes of pediatric patients undergoing positive pressure ventilation with different airway management techniques. Gastric ultrasound is a non-invasive bedside tool with high sensitivity and specificity for determining the nature and amount of gastric content. In pediatric cases, maintaining a gastric volume below 1.25 ml/kg is associated with a lower risk of perioperative aspiration. Although supraglottic airway devices (SADs) are commonly used as alternatives to endotracheal tubes, concerns regarding the potential for gastric insufflation and subsequent aspiration persist. Second-generation SADs were specifically designed with gastric drainage channels to mitigate the risk of regurgitation compared to first-generation devices. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether there is difference in gastric volumes, as measured by ultrasound, among three groups of pediatric patients: those managed with endotracheal tubes, first-generation SADs, and second-generation SADs. By comparing these measurements post-ventilation, the investigators aim to evaluate the impact of the airway device choice on gastric volume under clinical conditions.

Feasibility of Nurse-performed Gastric Ultrasound After Surgery

Gastric ultrasound is a quick and non-invasive tool to evaluate gastric content. Emptying of gastric content can be affected after abdominal surgery leading to the inability of tolerating oral foods. Gastric content can be assessed by gastric ultrasound and nurses were recently trained to do so in healthy volunteers; however, feasibility of nurse-performed gastric ultrasound after major abdominal surgery is not investigated yet. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of nurse-performed gastric point-of-care ultrasound after major gastro-intestinal surgery.