Korean J Anesthesiol.  2004 Mar;46(3):280-283. 10.4097/kjae.2004.46.3.280.

Gastric Volume and Acidity in Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women

• Hong JY
• Park JW
• Oh JI
• Lim WC

• KMID: 2236691
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2004.46.3.280

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Studies of gastric volume and pH during various stages of pregnancy have not confirmed a consistently evaluated volume or acidity, but point out that these patients may be at risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the volume and acidity of gastric contents in pregnant and non-pregnant patients.
METHODS
Thirty pregnant patients scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia (pregnant group) and thirty non-pregnant female patients that underwent gynecologic surgery with general anesthesia (non-pregnant group) were enrolled. Preoperative fasting times and anxiety score, using a visual analogue scale from 0 to 10, were obtained from all patients. After the induction of anesthesia, gastric contents were aspirated gently using a 14-F multiorifice nasogastric tube and syringe. Gastric volume and acidity were measured.
RESULTS
The gastric volume (ml) in the pregnant group was 42.8 +/- 35.0 (mean +/- SD, range: 5-130), and in the non-pregnant group 15.8 +/- 11.9 (range: 3-50). The gastric pH in the pregnant group was 2.1 +/- 0.9 (range: 1.3-5.4), and in the non-pregnant group 2.8 +/- 1.7 (range: 1.3-6.5).
CONCLUSIONS
We confirm that pregnant women have more acidic and greater gastric volumes than non-pregnant women.

Keyword

astric acidity; gastric volume; pregnant

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Anesthesia, General
Anesthesia, Spinal
Anxiety
Cesarean Section
Fasting
Female
Gynecologic Surgical Procedures
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Pregnancy
Pregnant Women
Syringes