Abstract
Objective
We sought to determine test performance characteristics of emergency physician ultrasound
for the identification of gastric contents.
Methods
Subjects were randomized to fast for at least 10 h or to consume food and water. A
sonologist blinded to the patient's status performed an ultrasound of the stomach
10 min after randomization and oral intake, if applicable. The sonologist recorded
their interpretation of the study using three sonographic windows. Subsequently 2
emergency physicians reviewed images of each study and provided an interpretation
of the examination. Test performance characteristics and inter-rater agreement were
calculated.
Results
45 gastric ultrasounds were performed. The sonologist had excellent sensitivity (92%;
95% CI 73%–99%) and specificity (85%; 95% CI 62%–92%). Expert review demonstrated
excellent sensitivity but lower specificity. Inter-rater agreement was very good (κ = 0.64,
95%CI 0.5–0.78).
Conclusion
Emergency physician sonologists were sensitive but less specific at detecting stomach
contents using gastric ultrasound.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: October 23, 2018
Accepted:
October 20,
2018
Received in revised form:
October 19,
2018
Received:
August 24,
2018
Footnotes
☆Presented at the American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly, Las Vegas, NV, 2016.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
