Impact of liberal preoperative clear fluid fasting regimens on the risk of pulmonary aspiration in children (EUROFAST)
An international prospective cohort study
British Journal of Anaesthesia
Reviewed September 2025 by Dr Meghan Cooney
The EUROFAST (European Preoperative Fasting Audit) project demonstrated that more liberal clear fluid fasting (≥1 hour) before anaesthesia in children is non-inferior to the more traditional ≥2 hour...
An observational study of gastric contents in pediatric patients with long bone fracture using gastric ultrasound
Pediatric Anesthesia
Reviewed November 2024 by Dr Su May Koh
This prospective observational study involved 200 paediatric surgical patients and assessed the reliability of fasting with ultrasound (US) imaging and suction in paediatric patients presenting for...
The relationship between gastric ultrasound findings and endoscopically aspirated volume in infants and determining the antral cutoff value for empty stomach diagnosis
Pediatric Anesthesia
Reviewed August 2024 by Dr Aisling Gormley
This single centre, prospective observational study, performed in a paediatric endoscopy unit between November 2021 and June 2022 examines the relationship between ultrasound measured gastric antrum...
A review of pediatric fasting guidelines and strategies to help children manage preoperative fasting
Pediatric Anesthesia
Reviewed September 2023 by Dr David Pachter
Summary: Balancing the risk between pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents, and the adverse consequences of prolonged fasting times is one of the age-old conundrums of paediatric anaesthesia. This...
Determining residual gastric volume in healthy children using ultrasound
Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia
Reviewed September 2023 by Dr Marlene Johnson
Summary This Canadian study was a prospective, observational study of 33 healthy volunteers aged between 2-14. It examined residual gastric volume using ultrasound, after patients were given 250mL...
Preoperative clear fluid fasting and endoscopy-measured gastric fluid volume in children
Measured gastric fluid volume in children
Pediatric Anesthesia
Reviewed October 2023 by Dr Pallavi Kumar
Summary: Study Type: Single-centre, prospective study in paediatric perioperative day care at a university-affiliated tertiary care centre. Methods: Aspiration of gastric fluid contents was...
2023 American Society of Anesthesiologists Practice Guidelines for Preoperative Fasting
Carbohydrate-containing Clear Liquids with or without Protein, Chewing Gum, and Pediatric Fasting Duration-A Modular Update of the 2017 American Society of Anesthesiologists Practice Guidelines for Preoperative Fasting
Anesthesiology
Reviewed January 2023 by Dr Don Hannah
This was an update of previous guidelines aimed at addressing the ingestion of carbohydrate-containing clear liquids with or without protein, chewing gum, and paediatric fasting...
Ultrasound Assessment of Gastric Fluid Volume in Children Scheduled for Elective Surgery After Clear Fluid Fasting for 1 Versus 2 Hours
A Randomized Controlled Trial
Anesthesia Analgesia
Reviewed March 2023 by Dr David Stoeter
This small randomized single-blinded controlled trial is the second such trial comparing gastric fluid volumes after a 1-hour versus a 2-hour clear fluid fast in children undergoing general...
