Preoperative evaluation of gastric contents and volume using ultrasound in patients with well- controlled and poorly-controlled diabetes mellitus: An observational, cross–sectional study

Preoperative evaluation of gastric contents and volume using ultrasound in patients with well- controlled and poorly-controlled diabetes mellitus: An observational, cross–sectional study - Background and Aims: Aspiration of gastric contents during anaesthesia induction is a critical concern, particularly in diabetic patients who are at risk of delayed gastric emptying due to autonomic neuropathy. The degree of glycemic control may influence gastric motility and, consequently, the gastric volume and contents. Point-of-care ultrasonography (USG) has emerged as a non-invasive, reliable tool for assessing gastric contents and predicting aspiration risk preoperatively. This study aimed to evaluate the gastric contents and volume in patients with well-controlled and poorly controlled diabetes mellitus using bedside ultrasonography (USG) to assess the risk of aspiration during the induction of anaesthesia. Materials and Methods: Sixty adult participants were categorized into two groups: well-controlled diabetes (HbA1c < 8> Results: Poorly controlled diabetics exhibited significantly larger gastric antral CSA and volumes compared to well-controlled diabetics (p < 0> Conclusion: Preoperative gastric ultrasonography highlighted a greater aspiration risk in poorly controlled diabetics due to larger gastric volumes and contents. This assessment can guide perioperative anaesthesia management, emphasizing the need for tailored induction strategies in this population. Keywords: Aspiration, Diabetes mellitus, Gastric content, Ultrasound, Point-of-care.