Feasibility of gastric point-of-care ultrasound (G-POCUS) to determine gastric content after…

StudySurgery· Jul 2026

Feasibility of gastric point-of-care ultrasound (G-POCUS) to determine gastric content after gastrointestinal surgery: A prospective pilot study.

Harm H J van Noort, Marijn C T Tacken, Alison Posthuma … Getty Huisman-de Waal

Point-of-Care UltrasoundStudyClinical practiceQ3IF 0.7

Nurse-performed gastric ultrasound gave a conclusive reading in most postoperative patients.

Feasibility of gastric point-of-care ultrasound (G-POCUS) to determine gastric content after gastrointestinal surgery: A prospective pilot study.

Harm H J van Noort … Getty Huisman-de Waal

Surgery · Jul 2026

Background

After gastrointestinal surgery, assessing gastric content provides insight in the recovery of gastrointestinal function.

Purpose

This pilot study introduces gastric point-of-care ultrasound into routine postoperative care, evaluating the feasibility from nurses', patients', and quality perspectives.

Methods

Trained nurses performed gastric point-of-care ultrasound in patients after gastrointestinal surgery.

n = 40,

92%

Results

92%

gastric ultrasound gave a clear, usable reading in nearly all patients

n = 40,

More results

Reasons for nonconclusive gastric point-of-care ultrasound assessment included abdominal air, antrum not identified, or discomfort.

Fluid content was found in 22 (46%) cases, with a median volume of 248 mL.

Gastric point-of-care ultrasound was well accepted by nurses who also felt confident employing it.

More results

The intraclass correlation coefficient for interpretation accuracy was 0.537, indicating moderate reliability.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Ultrasound assessment of gastric content in patients recovering from major gastrointestinal surgery is feasible from nursing and patient perspectives.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Examinations employed by nurses were successful, with acceptable inter-rater agreement in the interpretation.

Feasibility of gastric point-of-care ultrasound (G-POCUS) to determine gastric content after gastrointestinal surgery: A prospective pilot study.

Feasibility of gastric point-of-care ultrasound (G-POCUS) to determine gastric content after gastrointestinal surgery: A prospective pilot study.

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