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.
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