Gastric Ultrasound in Diabetic Patients

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) does not specify a fasting period for patients with certain comorbidities, such as diabetes, for elective surgery, and does not make a separate recommendation for surgery.

The European Society of Anesthesiology (ESA) guidelines do not differentiate between diabetic patients and normal patients. Aspiration of gastric contents is a common cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality.

Aspiration can cause hypoxia, bronchospasm, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and death.

The presence of food or fluid in the stomach before induction of anesthesia is one of the greatest risk factors for perioperative pulmonary aspiration. Sedation and general anesthesia suppress or inhibit physiologic mechanisms (tone of the lower esophageal sphincter and upper airway reflexes) that protect against aspiration.

Because restriction of fluid and food intake before general anesthesia is vital for patient safety, Anesthesiology societies have developed guidelines for preoperative fasting.

Current ASA guidelines recommend at least 2 hours fasting for clear liquids, 6 hours fasting after a light meal (toast and clear liquids) and 8 hours fasting after a high calorie or fat meal. The information obtained from gastric ultrasound allows anesthesiologists to determine the optimal timing of procedures, type of anesthesia and airway management technique.