Gastric Ultrasound Imaging to Direct Perioperative Care in Pediatric Patients: A Report of 2 Cases.

Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents carries significant risk in children in the perioperative period. Ultrasound imaging of the gastric antrum has been validated to predict gastric content and volume in both pediatric and adult patients, and yet clinical applications in pediatric patients are sparse. We report 2 cases of children presenting for elective surgery with uncertain volume of gastric contents. Bedside gastric imaging successfully identified "full stomachs," and the information was used to direct care.