Gastroesophageal Reflux and Aspiration of Gastric Contents in Anesthetic Practice

Abstract

Dequate starvation, or gastrointestinal pathology resulting in reduced gastric emptying and gastroesophageal reflux. Despite increasing knowledge of the problems associated with aspiration, the relatively small incidence and associated mortality rates in the perioperative period do not appear to have changed markedly over the last few decades. In this review article, the physiological factors associated with an increased risk of gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration are considered together with some of the methods that are used to prevent aspiration. In particular, preoperative starvation, the use of drugs designed to increase gastric pH, recent developments in airway devices, and appropriate application of cricoid pressure are critically appraised....