Review flags inconsistent reporting of indeterminate gastric ultrasound scans

A secondary analysis of 65 studies on gastric point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in medically complex patients found that 32 studies reported at least one indeterminate or non-interpretable examination, 24 reported none, and nine had unclear or non-numeric reporting. The authors state that studies often fail to distinguish scans not performed, incomplete scans, technically inadequate images, and uncertain results despite visualization. The review proposes a reporting framework and notes that an indeterminate scan is non-diagnostic, in which case clinicians would rely on the original aspiration-risk assessment or a more cautious plan.

Most relevant for: Clinicians using gastric point-of-care ultrasound to assess aspiration risk in medically complex or uncertain fasting-status patients before procedures.

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