(*hypothetical patient)

You have a young woman booked for an emergency D&C for a miscarriage. She is in a lot of discomfort from the misoprostol given earlier that day. She hasn’t eaten for exactly 6 hours but feels a bit nauseated and has had some oxycodone during the day. According to the 6 hour rule you assume she should be fasted – but she has had opioids because of her pain and you wonder whether she does still have solids in her stomach and will it be safe to just use a supraglottic ariway or should you give her an RSI and used a cuffed endotracheal tube? Is there anyway you can get more information to help you make a decision??

Hi Everyone,

This week I am joined by Dr Mark Sharples to discuss gastric ultrasound a fascinating technique which could be the new frontier in perioperative aspiration risk assessment.

Gastricultrasound.org

NAP4 – airway audit project in the UK