Comparison of preoperative gastric contents and serum gastrin concentrations in pregnant and nonpregnant women

Abstract: Study Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the volume and the pH level of preoperative gastric contents and serum gastrin concentrations between pregnant and nonpregnant women. Design: This prospective controlled study was conducted in a single blind manner. Patients: One hundred pregnant women scheduled for elective cesarean delivery (pregnant group) and 100 nonpregnant women who underwent gynecologic surgery (nonpregnant group) were enrolled. Interventions: Gastric content was aspirated gently with 14-F multiorificed nasogastric tube before the induction of anesthesia. Measurements: The volume and the pH level of the aspirated gastric contents were measured, and serum gastrin concentration was measured by the double antibody gastrin method. Main Results: The gastric volume in the pregnant group was greater than in the nonpregnant group (0.49 ± 0.4 vs 0.24 ± 0.2 mL/kg, P < .05). The gastric pH level in the pregnant group was lower than in the nonpregnant group (2.4 ± 1.4 vs 3.0 ± 1.9, P < .05). The number of patients at risk was 45 (45.5%) in the pregnant group and 16 (16.7%) in the nonpregnant group (P < .05). The serum gastrin levels of the 2 groups were not significantly different (32.1 ± 12.3 vs 28.2 ± 8.3 pg/mL). The preoperative anxiety level of the pregnant group was higher than in the nonpregnant group (4.4 ± 2.1 vs 3.8 ± 2.2, P < .05). Conclusions: We confirmed that pregnant women have much greater and more acidic gastric contents than the nonpregnant patients preoperatively, and it is not because of serum gastrin concentration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]