Validation of a mathematical model for ultrasound assessment of gastric volume by gastroscopic examination.

Introduction: Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is a serious perioperative complication. Previous models of ultrasound gastric volume assessment are preliminary and have not been validated by an external "gold standard." In the present study we propose a more accurate model based on prospective data obtained from 108 patients undergoing bedside gastric sonography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE).

Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia performance in the early learning period: effect of simulation training.

Background And Objectives: Success in performing ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blockade (PNB) demands sound knowledge of sonoanatomy, good scanning techniques, and proper hand-eye coordination. The objectives of our study were to evaluate whether simulator training aids success of novice operators in ultrasound-guided PNB and to determine what number of procedures is required to attain proficiency.

Methods: Twenty Postgraduate Year 2 anesthesiology residents with no previous experience in ultrasound-guided PNB were randomly assigned into 2 groups.