A Window to the Stomach-Gastric Ultrasound's Growing Role in Pediatric Anesthesia.

Gastric ultrasound (GUS) is an evolving Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) tool whose applicability is being increasingly studied in pediatric anesthesia. The technique evaluates the gastric antrum, in the right lateral decubitus or supine positions to determine the quality and quantity of stomach contents. The Perlas 3-point grading is a semi-quantitative assessment method, which can be applied to pediatric patients as well. GUS may be potentially useful in situations when a child's fasting status is uncertain or gastric emptying is delayed as an adjunct to clinical decision-making. Although quantitative gastric volume estimation models require further validation and large-scale trials are challenging due to the low incidence of aspiration, GUS holds significant promise. Its routine clinical integration demands further robust studies focused on patient-oriented outcomes.