Routine preoperative gastric emptying is seldom indicated. A study of 85 594 anaesthetics with special focus on aspiration pneumonia

Abstract

We found a low incidence of pulmonary aspiration. When it occurs, it carries a low risk for serious morbidity. Emergency cases for general anaesthesia are most at risk. Regional anaesthesia is considered safe. There is no evidence that preoperative gastric emptying should be routinely done in emergency cases, except in patients with suspected ileus/ subileus.