Before placing a patient under general anesthesia, one of the most important questions is whether the stomach is empty. If it is not, the patient faces a serious risk of pulmonary aspiration, where stomach contents enter the lungs during the procedure.
Gastric point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) provides a safe, non-invasive way to assess stomach contents in real time. Despite its clinical value, a 2024 study published in BMC Medical Education shows that many anesthesiologists are not yet trained to use it.
The study, led by Maseri and colleagues, surveyed 323 Belgian anesthesiologists and trainees to assess their recognition of aspiration risk and familiarity with gastric POCUS.
Rather than relying on self-reported confidence, participants were given a simulated clinical case involving a patient at risk of gastric aspiration. The case was developed and validated by certified anesthesiologists trained in gastric POCUS, allowing researchers to assess real clinical decision-making, not just awareness.
Key Findings
The results highlight a clear gap between clinical need and training:
Only 20.8% of respondents correctly identified the risk of a full stomach based on patient history alone
Just 13.08% had received formal training in gastric POCUS
72.57% expressed interest in future training
80.17% reported having access to ultrasound equipment
78.90% supported adding gastric POCUS to anesthesia training curricula
Encouragingly, those who had received training demonstrated strong recall of both technique and image interpretation. This suggests that gastric POCUS is a skill clinicians can learn and retain with the right educational support.
At the same time, the findings highlight two important gaps. The low rate of correct risk identification points to a challenge beyond technical skill. Clinicians need stronger foundational training to recognize when gastric POCUS should be used.
There is also a clear disconnect between access and education. Most respondents already have ultrasound equipment and a strong interest in learning, yet formal training remains limited. The barrier is not a lack of availability, but a lack of structured, accessible training.
This is where structured ultrasound education makes the difference. Simulation-based training offers a way to deliver consistent, repeatable learning experiences without relying on the variability of real-world clinical exposure. Clinicians can build confidence in both identifying when to use gastric POCUS and performing the exam itself.
Platforms like SonoSim are designed to support this type of learning, helping programs scale ultrasound education and ensure clinicians are prepared before they encounter high-risk scenarios in practice.
The path forward is clear. Gastric POCUS has the potential to significantly improve patient safety, but its impact depends on clinician proficiency. The technology is already in place, and the demand for training is evident. The next step is ensuring clinicians have access to the education needed to use it effectively.