NCT05674643

Brief Summary

The goal of this pilot prospective cohort study is to examine the reproducibility of gastric volume and emptying as measured by gastric ultrasound and its correlation to a gold-standard test for gastric emptying in the perioperative period in pediatric patients. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • What is the reliability (inter-rater variability between expert and novice assessors, and intra-rater variability) of a) the gastric antral cross-sectional area (CSA) and b) gastric volume using the Perlas US qualitative grading assessment, measured by using an ultrasound device in pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgery?
  • What is the correlation between ultrasound assessment of gastric emptying by the antral-CSA and gastric emptying determined by the acetaminophen absorption test (AAT), the gold standard? The study will include two cohorts. Cohort assignment will be based on age and anesthesia induction plan. Subjects \>7yrs of age and expected to get an IV induction will be assigned to Cohort #1. Subjects \<7yrs of age and not expected to get an IV induction will be assigned to Cohort #2.
  • Cohort 1 will include abdominal ultrasound for gastric assessment AND the acetaminophen absorption test which includes administering enteral acetaminophen (tylenol) with 6 oz of water and drawing of blood samples through a peripheral intravenous line.
  • Cohort 2 will include subjects for whom a peripheral intravenous line placement is not part of routine pre-operative care. Procedures for Cohort 2 will include abdominal ultrasound only in the pre-op area (no tylenol). This cohort is included to examine the reliability of measurements across age groups.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
60

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for all trials

Timeline
32mo left

Started Feb 2023

Longer than P75 for all trials

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress55%
Feb 2023Dec 2028

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 18, 2022

Completed
3 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 6, 2023

Completed
26 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

February 1, 2023

Completed
5.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2028

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2028

Last Updated

April 2, 2026

Status Verified

March 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

5.9 years

First QC Date

October 18, 2022

Last Update Submit

March 27, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

gastric ultrasoundpre-operative fasting

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Inter-rater reliability

    Measured using the following quantitative and qualitative ultrasound assessments between a novice and an expert gastric ultrasound operator: * Qualitative using the previously published Perlas' US qualitative grading assessment * Grade 0- no contents visualized in supine and lateral position * Grade 1- contents visualized in the lateral decubitus position (RLD) only * Grade 2- contents visualized in the supine and RLD. * Quantitative assessment using the cross-sectional area as published by Spencer AO et al. * Measurement of the CSA: longitudinal diameter (D1), and the antero-posterior diameter (D2) in both supine and RLD. Then these will be used to calculate the cross-sectional area (CSA) = (π\*D1\*D2)/4. * Quantitative assessment using the cross-sectional area as published by Spencer AO et al. * Measurement of the CSA: longitudinal diameter (D1), and the antero-posterior diameter (D2) in both supine and RLD. Then these will be used to calculate the cross-sectional area (CSA)

    1 year

  • Intra-rater reliability

    Measured using the following quantitative and qualitative ultrasound assessments between a novice and an expert gastric ultrasound operator: * Qualitative using the previously published Perlas' US qualitative grading assessment * Grade 0- no contents visualized in supine and lateral position * Grade 1- contents visualized in the lateral decubitus position (RLD) only * Grade 2- contents visualized in the supine and RLD. * Quantitative assessment using the cross-sectional area as published by Spencer AO et al. * Measurement of the CSA: longitudinal diameter (D1), and the antero-posterior diameter (D2) in both supine and RLD. Then these will be used to calculate the cross-sectional area (CSA) = (π\*D1\*D2)/4.

    1 year

  • Gastric Emptying

    Outcome will be gastric emptying assessed by the change in antral CSA (measured in cm2) over time after acetaminophen administration, and this will be correlated to gastric emptying over the same period of time by the acetaminophen absorption test PK parameter, AUC60 mcg\*min/mL. As such, each patient will act as their own control. Correlation analysis will be applied to examine the performance of CSA measurements overtime using gastric ultrasound to determine gastric emptying compared to the acetaminophen absorption test as the gold standard.

    1 year

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Post-anesthetic outcomes

    1 year

Study Arms (2)

Cohort 1 - ultrasound and acetaminophen

Cohort 1 will include subjects who have a peripheral intravenous line placed in the pre-op area per routine care. This cohort is on average age 7 years and older. Procedures for cohort 1 will include: (a) gastric US measurement of the antral CSA and gastric volume using the Perlas US qualitative grading assessment by an expert and a novice operator to determine the inter-rater class reliability and repeat measurements by each operator to assess the intra-rater reliability (Aim 1), and (b) serial abdominal ultrasounds for gastric assessment and the acetaminophen absorption test to determine the correlation between gastric US and a gold-standard for gastric emptying (Aim 2). The acetaminophen absorption test requires administering a single weight-based enteral dose of acetaminophen with 6 oz of water and drawing of blood samples through a peripheral intravenous line.

Diagnostic Test: Gastric Ultrasound Baseline ScansDiagnostic Test: Acetaminophen Absorption Test (AAT)Diagnostic Test: Gastric Ultrasound Serial Scans

Cohort 2 - ultrasound only

Cohort 2 will include subjects for whom a peripheral intravenous line placement is not part of routine pre-operative care. Average age for cohort 2 is age less than 7 years old. Procedures for Cohort 2 will include a gastric US measurement of the antral CSA and gastric volume using Perlas US qualitative grading assessment by an expert and a novice operator to determine the inter-rater class reliability and repeat measurements by each operator for the intra-rater reliability (Aim 1). This cohort is included to examine the reliability of measurements across age groups.

Diagnostic Test: Gastric Ultrasound Baseline Scans

Interventions

The patient's abdomen will be scanned using the ultrasound device by an expert scanner and novice scanner for baseline assessment of the antral CSA and gastric volume using Perlas US qualitative grading assessment.

Cohort 1 - ultrasound and acetaminophenCohort 2 - ultrasound only

Prior to starting the AAT, a baseline plasma acetaminophen level (250 microliters) will be obtained from the intravenous catheter. The subject will then be given 12.5 mg/kg or max 650mg of single batch 32mg/mL acetaminophen followed by 6oz of water PO. Up to 3 additional small volume blood samples will be drawn for acetaminophen levels. These additional blood samples (250 microliters each) will be obtained to measure acetaminophen plasma levels at the following goal intervals after acetaminophen administration.T1:10-20 mins, T2:35-45 mins, T3: 60mins. At the time of each lab draw gastric ultrasound will be assessed by the expert scanner to correlate gastric ultrasound with the acetaminophen absorption test as a gold-standard of gastric emptying.

Cohort 1 - ultrasound and acetaminophen

Cohort 1 will have multiple scans as part of assessing gastric emptying. These sequential scans after the baseline assessment will be done in line with the Acetaminophen Absorption Test timeline (T1:10-20 mins, T2:35-45 mins, T3: 60mins) and will be performed by an expert scanner only.

Cohort 1 - ultrasound and acetaminophen

Eligibility Criteria

Age2 Years - 18 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

This study is enrolling healthy pediatric subjects ages 2 through 17 years of age who are undergoing surgery with anesthesia at Boston Children's Hospital.

You may qualify if:

  • Perioperative patients with ASA classification 1-2
  • Ages: 2 years- less than 18 years
  • Locations: Longwood and Waltham campuses of Boston Childrens Hospital

You may not qualify if:

  • History of gastrointestinal surgery
  • Gastrostomy
  • Known GI dysmotility (cohort 1 only)
  • Acetaminophen allergy (cohort 1 only)
  • Liver or renal dysfunction- pre-diagnosed or, if available, when serum biomarkers are 2 standard deviations above the highest value considered normal for age. (cohort 1 only)
  • Consumption of acetaminophen in the 4 hours prior (cohort 1 only)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Boston Children's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Spencer 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.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

FastingGastroparesisPneumonia, Aspiration

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Feeding BehaviorBehaviorStomach DiseasesGastrointestinal DiseasesDigestive System DiseasesParalysisNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsPneumoniaRespiratory Tract InfectionsInfectionsLung DiseasesRespiratory Tract Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Director, Regional Analgesia Program

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 18, 2022

First Posted

January 6, 2023

Study Start

February 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2028

Last Updated

April 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Locations