Trauma; ComplicationsNCT05330351
Gastric Ultrasound in Pediatric Trauma Patients
An observational study of Trauma; Complications and Aspiration, run by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Gastric ultrasound has become increasingly utilized to examine volume and quality of gastric contents in the preoperative setting to guide anesthetic management and relay risk of aspiration in both adult and pediatric medicine. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 0 to 17 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Trauma; Complications, Aspiration
- What is being tested?
- Gastric Ultrasound
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 26 Mar 2022to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 0 to 17 years
- All sexes
- Child
Study population: perioperative pediatric trauma patients
Who may be able to join
- Pediatric patients ages 0-17 years-old
- Patients suffering from a traumatic injury requiring urgent or emergent surgery.
- Inpatient or Same-Day Surgery
Who cannot join
- Children with altered or abnormal gastric physiology, ie, history of Nissen Fundoplication, history of short-gut syndrome, history of bariatric surgery/gastric sleeve, history of gastroparesis or functional dysmotility, etc.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
About this study
Official title: Evaluation of Gastric Contents by Ultrasound in Pediatric Trauma Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia
Gastric ultrasound has become increasingly utilized to examine volume and quality of gastric contents in the preoperative setting to guide anesthetic management and relay risk of aspiration in both adult and pediatric medicine. Gastric fluid volumes in trauma patients are thought to be elevated due to delayed gastric emptying in the setting of an over-attenuated sympathetic response to physical pain and stress, opioid analgesia, and other associated injuries (traumatic brain). However, there is a paucity of literature examining gastric fluid volumes (GFV), measured by gastric ultrasound, in the pediatric trauma population. The purpose of the study is to assess whether preoperative gastric ultrasound is an accurate method to identify pediatric trauma patients who have elevated GFV (>0.8mL/kg) and high-risk gastric contents (solids, complex liquids, in addition to large volumes).
Read the detailed description
There is longstanding evidence that GFV are elevated in trauma patients for several physiologic reasons. This has been corroborated in both adult and pediatric studies, suggesting that trauma patients may be at higher risk for gastric aspiration compared to healthy controls, and that anesthetic management should reflect this elevated risk. This often implies tracheal intubation with or without a rapid sequence induction. However, performing rapid sequence induction to decrease aspiration risk increases the risk of desaturation, hypoxia, bradycardia, and hemodynamic instability, especially in small children who have reduced functional residual capacity and who are difficult to adequately preoxygenate. This has presented a question-mark for anesthesia providers caring for children with traumatic injuries, and variations in practice. Bricker and authors examined gastric fluid volumes by aspiration of gastric contents in 1989 in pediatric trauma patients, and found that nearly 50% had elevated gastric contents and were at risk for potential aspiration, though no aspiration events were captured. Likewise, Schurizek and authors looked a cohort of pediatric patients presenting for emergency surgery, which included trauma, and found the nearly 38% of children presenting to the OR who had adequately fasted had elevated gastric contents. A recent study using gastric ultrasound in children with proximal limb fractures found a similar rate of elevated gastric contents with 37% of children meeting criteria, and 24% of those showing evidence of solids/complex gastric fluid. Again, no aspiration events were captured. Thus, little is known to inform anesthesiologists about which risk factors contribute to high gastric volumes in pediatric trauma patients or how long these children may be considered at additional risk for aspiration. Aspiration is an extremely rare event, typically estimated between 1-5/10,000 anesthetics or 0.01%, and the sample size needed to power a study to capture reducing the risk of aspiration is not feasible. Thus, the investigators hope to characterize gastric contents/GFV using ultrasound in pediatric trauma patients presenting with a wide variety of traumatic injury and at varying times from injury (urgent/emergent surgery versus semi-urgent surgery), to identify potential risk factors and guide anesthetic management in this vulnerable population.
- Conditions
- Trauma; Complications, Aspiration
- Being tested
- Gastric Ultrasound
- Keywords
- pediatric, trauma, gastric, ultrasound
- Medical subject headings
- Wounds and Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Gastric UltrasoundDiagnostic test
The investigators will compare gastric fluid volume as determined by ultrasound pre-induction vs. gastric volume aspirated via an orogastric tube post-intubation. The results will be stratified into low risk, moderate risk and high risk for aspiration based on ultrasound exam by an investigator off-line.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Pediatric Trauma Patients | Pediatric patients (<18 years old) who have suffered a traumatic event requiring surgical fixation within 48 hours prior to time to arrival in the operating room. Receives: Diagnostic Test: Gastric Ultrasound |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Gastric fluid volume (GFV)
GFV will be estimated via obtained gastric antral cross-sectional area (CSA), measured by ultrasound, and calculated using the formula: GSV= 0.0093 * CSA [mm2] - 0.96. This calculated GFV will be compared to aspirated gastric volumes.
Measured: GFV will be measured immediately prior to induction of general anesthesia within the operating room.
Secondary outcomes (2)
Airway management patterns
We will also collect data on airway management patterns in pediatric trauma patients (rapid-sequence induction, laryngeal mask airway, etc).
Measured: This data will be collected up to 1 year.
Aspiration
Number of patients with aspiration intraoperatively.
Measured: This data will be collected up to 1 year.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Apr 2022
- Study start26 Mar 2022
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (11)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Trauma; ComplicationsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Elaina Lin, MD, Principal investigator, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05330351
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 21-019564
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Mar 2022
- Last updated
- 20 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Hardman JG, O'Connor PJ. Predicting gastric contents following trauma: an evaluation of current practice. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 1999 Jun;16(6):404-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2346.1999.00513.x.
PubMed 10434171Schurizek BA, Rybro L, Boggild-Madsen NB, Juhl B. Gastric volume and pH in children for emergency surgery. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1986 Jul;30(5):404-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1986.tb02439.x.
PubMed 3766097Power I, Easton JC, Todd JG, Nimmo WS. Gastric emptying after head injury. Anaesthesia. 1989 Jul;44(7):563-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1989.tb11442.x.
PubMed 2774121Warner MA, Meyerhoff KL, Warner ME, Posner KL, Stephens L, Domino KB. Pulmonary Aspiration of Gastric Contents: A Closed Claims Analysis. Anesthesiology. 2021 Aug 1;135(2):284-291. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000003831.
PubMed 34019629Cook-Sather SD, Tulloch HV, Cnaan A, Nicolson SC, Cubina ML, Gallagher PR, Schreiner MS. A comparison of awake versus paralyzed tracheal intubation for infants with pyloric stenosis. Anesth Analg. 1998 May;86(5):945-51. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199805000-00006.
PubMed 9585274Evain JN, Durand Z, Dilworth K, Sintzel S, Courvoisier A, Mortamet G, Desgranges FP, Bouvet L, Payen JF. Assessing gastric contents in children before general anesthesia for acute extremity fracture: An ultrasound observational cohort study. J Clin Anesth. 2022 May;77:110598. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2021.110598. Epub 2021 Nov 18.
PubMed 34801888Spencer AO, Walker AM, Yeung AK, Lardner DR, Yee K, Mulvey JM, Perlas A. Ultrasound assessment of gastric volume in the fasted pediatric patient undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: development of a predictive model using endoscopically suctioned volumes. Paediatr Anaesth. 2015 Mar;25(3):301-8. doi: 10.1111/pan.12581. Epub 2014 Dec 11.
PubMed 25495405Schmitz A, Schmidt AR, Buehler PK, Schraner T, Fruhauf M, Weiss M, Klaghofer R, Kellenberger CJ. Gastric ultrasound as a preoperative bedside test for residual gastric contents volume in children. Paediatr Anaesth. 2016 Dec;26(12):1157-1164. doi: 10.1111/pan.12993. Epub 2016 Aug 20.
PubMed 27543559Raidoo DM, Rocke DA, Brock-Utne JG, Marszalek A, Engelbrecht HE. Critical volume for pulmonary acid aspiration: reappraisal in a primate model. Br J Anaesth. 1990 Aug;65(2):248-50. doi: 10.1093/bja/65.2.248.
PubMed 2223347Cook-Sather SD, Liacouras CA, Previte JP, Markakis DA, Schreiner MS. Gastric fluid measurement by blind aspiration in paediatric patients: a gastroscopic evaluation. Can J Anaesth. 1997 Feb;44(2):168-72. doi: 10.1007/BF03013006.
PubMed 9043730Bricker SR, McLuckie A, Nightingale DA. Gastric aspirates after trauma in children. Anaesthesia. 1989 Sep;44(9):721-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1989.tb09255.x.
PubMed 2802116
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluation of Gastric Contents by Ultrasound in Pediatric Trauma Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05330351
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 21-019564
- Conditions
- Trauma; Complications, Aspiration
- Keywords
- pediatric, trauma, gastric, ultrasound
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 26 Mar 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Gastric ultrasound has become increasingly utilized to examine volume and quality of gastric contents in the preoperative setting to guide anesthetic management and relay risk of aspiration in both adult and pediatric medicine. Gastric fluid volumes in trauma patients are thought to be elevated due to delayed gastric emptying in the setting of an over-attenuated sympathetic response to physical pain and stress, opioid analgesia, and other associated injuries (traumatic brain). However, there is a paucity of literature examining gastric fluid volumes (GFV), measured by gastric ultrasound, in the pediatric trauma population. The purpose of the study is to assess whether preoperative gastric ultrasound is an accurate method to identify pediatric trauma patients who have elevated GFV (>0.8mL/kg) and high-risk gastric contents (solids, complex liquids, in addition to large volumes).
Detailed description
There is longstanding evidence that GFV are elevated in trauma patients for several physiologic reasons. This has been corroborated in both adult and pediatric studies, suggesting that trauma patients may be at higher risk for gastric aspiration compared to healthy controls, and that anesthetic management should reflect this elevated risk. This often implies tracheal intubation with or without a rapid sequence induction. However, performing rapid sequence induction to decrease aspiration risk increases the risk of desaturation, hypoxia, bradycardia, and hemodynamic instability, especially in small children who have reduced functional residual capacity and who are difficult to adequately preoxygenate. This has presented a question-mark for anesthesia providers caring for children with traumatic injuries, and variations in practice. Bricker and authors examined gastric fluid volumes by aspiration of gastric contents in 1989 in pediatric trauma patients, and found that nearly 50% had elevated gastric contents and were at risk for potential aspiration, though no aspiration events were captured. Likewise, Schurizek and authors looked a cohort of pediatric patients presenting for emergency surgery, which included trauma, and found the nearly 38% of children presenting to the OR who had adequately fasted had elevated gastric contents. A recent study using gastric ultrasound in children with proximal limb fractures found a similar rate of elevated gastric contents with 37% of children meeting criteria, and 24% of those showing evidence of solids/complex gastric fluid. Again, no aspiration events were captured. Thus, little is known to inform anesthesiologists about which risk factors contribute to high gastric volumes in pediatric trauma patients or how long these children may be considered at additional risk for aspiration. Aspiration is an extremely rare event, typically estimated between 1-5/10,000 anesthetics or 0.01%, and the sample size needed to power a study to capture reducing the risk of aspiration is not feasible. Thus, the investigators hope to characterize gastric contents/GFV using ultrasound in pediatric trauma patients presenting with a wide variety of traumatic injury and at varying times from injury (urgent/emergent surgery versus semi-urgent surgery), to identify potential risk factors and guide anesthetic management in this vulnerable population.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Pediatric Trauma Patients | – | Diagnostic Test: Gastric UltrasoundPediatric patients (<18 years old) who have suffered a traumatic event requiring surgical fixation within 48 hours prior to time to arrival in the operating room. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 0 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Age groups
- Child
- Study population
- perioperative pediatric trauma patients
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Pediatric patients ages 0-17 years-old
- Patients suffering from a traumatic injury requiring urgent or emergent surgery.
- Inpatient or Same-Day Surgery
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Children with altered or abnormal gastric physiology, ie, history of Nissen Fundoplication, history of short-gut syndrome, history of bariatric surgery/gastric sleeve, history of gastroparesis or functional dysmotility, etc.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Gastric UltrasoundThe investigators will compare gastric fluid volume as determined by ultrasound pre-induction vs. gastric volume aspirated via an orogastric tube post-intubation. The results will be stratified into low risk, moderate risk and high risk for aspiration based on ultrasound exam by an investigator off-line. | Diagnostic test | Pediatric Trauma Patients |
Primary outcome
Gastric fluid volume (GFV)
Time frame: GFV will be measured immediately prior to induction of general anesthesia within the operating room.
GFV will be estimated via obtained gastric antral cross-sectional area (CSA), measured by ultrasound, and calculated using the formula: GSV= 0.0093 * CSA [mm2] - 0.96. This calculated GFV will be compared to aspirated gastric volumes.
2 secondary outcomes
Airway management patterns
Time frame: This data will be collected up to 1 year.
Aspiration
Time frame: This data will be collected up to 1 year.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Feb 2026.
- Background: PubMed 10434171Hardman JG, O'Connor PJ. Predicting gastric contents following trauma: an evaluation of current practice. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 1999 Jun;16(6):404-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2346.1999.00513.x.
- Background: PubMed 3766097Schurizek BA, Rybro L, Boggild-Madsen NB, Juhl B. Gastric volume and pH in children for emergency surgery. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1986 Jul;30(5):404-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1986.tb02439.x.
- Background: PubMed 2774121Power I, Easton JC, Todd JG, Nimmo WS. Gastric emptying after head injury. Anaesthesia. 1989 Jul;44(7):563-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1989.tb11442.x.
- Background: PubMed 34019629Warner MA, Meyerhoff KL, Warner ME, Posner KL, Stephens L, Domino KB. Pulmonary Aspiration of Gastric Contents: A Closed Claims Analysis. Anesthesiology. 2021 Aug 1;135(2):284-291. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000003831.
- Background: PubMed 9585274Cook-Sather SD, Tulloch HV, Cnaan A, Nicolson SC, Cubina ML, Gallagher PR, Schreiner MS. A comparison of awake versus paralyzed tracheal intubation for infants with pyloric stenosis. Anesth Analg. 1998 May;86(5):945-51. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199805000-00006.
- Background: PubMed 34801888Evain JN, Durand Z, Dilworth K, Sintzel S, Courvoisier A, Mortamet G, Desgranges FP, Bouvet L, Payen JF. Assessing gastric contents in children before general anesthesia for acute extremity fracture: An ultrasound observational cohort study. J Clin Anesth. 2022 May;77:110598. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2021.110598. Epub 2021 Nov 18.
- Background: PubMed 25495405Spencer AO, Walker AM, Yeung AK, Lardner DR, Yee K, Mulvey JM, Perlas A. Ultrasound assessment of gastric volume in the fasted pediatric patient undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: development of a predictive model using endoscopically suctioned volumes. Paediatr Anaesth. 2015 Mar;25(3):301-8. doi: 10.1111/pan.12581. Epub 2014 Dec 11.
- Background: PubMed 27543559Schmitz A, Schmidt AR, Buehler PK, Schraner T, Fruhauf M, Weiss M, Klaghofer R, Kellenberger CJ. Gastric ultrasound as a preoperative bedside test for residual gastric contents volume in children. Paediatr Anaesth. 2016 Dec;26(12):1157-1164. doi: 10.1111/pan.12993. Epub 2016 Aug 20.
- Background: PubMed 2223347Raidoo DM, Rocke DA, Brock-Utne JG, Marszalek A, Engelbrecht HE. Critical volume for pulmonary acid aspiration: reappraisal in a primate model. Br J Anaesth. 1990 Aug;65(2):248-50. doi: 10.1093/bja/65.2.248.
- Background: PubMed 9043730Cook-Sather SD, Liacouras CA, Previte JP, Markakis DA, Schreiner MS. Gastric fluid measurement by blind aspiration in paediatric patients: a gastroscopic evaluation. Can J Anaesth. 1997 Feb;44(2):168-72. doi: 10.1007/BF03013006.
- Results publication: PubMed 2802116Bricker SR, McLuckie A, Nightingale DA. Gastric aspirates after trauma in children. Anaesthesia. 1989 Sep;44(9):721-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1989.tb09255.x.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Elaina Lin, MD principal investigator
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Trauma; Complications and Aspiration, run by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Gastric fluid volume (GFV) (time frame: GFV will be measured immediately prior to induction of general anesthesia within the operating room.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05330351, which also lists 11 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Feb 2026.