The relationship between patient-reported hunger and gastric contents in adult patients with acute surgical abdominal pathology: exploratory prospective observational study
Authors' conclusion
In this exploratory study, no meaningful relationship between hunger and aspiration risk using gastric ultrasound could be identified.
Study context
- Population
- Adults awaiting emergency abdominal surgery without additional risk factors for gastroparesis, two hospitals in Brisbane, Australia, April 2022 to May 2024antrum visualised in 96
- Participants
- 100 adults
- Exposure
- Low risk vs high risk
- High riskn = 33
- Outcome
- Association of patient-reported hunger rating with gastric ultrasound aspiration risk
Methodological detailsexploratory, blinded ultrasound operator, two hospitals
- Exploratory
- Blinded ultrasound operator
- Two hospitals
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hunger rating (NRS) by gastric ultrasound aspiration risk
Mean hunger rating, all patients
4.6
95% CI 4.1–5.2
No significant difference in hunger rating between aspiration risk groups: mean difference
−0.75
95% CI −1.96 to 0.45
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Hungry (binary)
P = 0.75
Correlation of gastric volume per kg with hunger rating
- Spearman rs (weak negative, no discernible trend)
- −0.137 (95% CI −0.402 to 0.128)
Original publication
The relationship between patient-reported hunger and gastric contents in adult patients with acute surgical abdominal pathology: exploratory prospective observational study. BJA Open. Published 19 May 2026. doi:10.
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