Multidetector computed tomography-based evaluation of gastric volumes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

ABSTRACT

Objective@#Resuscitation-related gastric inflation is associated with inadequate ventilation and the risk of gastric regurgitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. This study aims to estimate resuscitation-related gastric inflation values by using multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scanning. @*Methods@#MDCT imaging data were obtained from OHCA patients undergoing resuscitation from January 2014 to December 2020. Thirty age- and sex-matched healthy controls that underwent an MDCT scan were included. Gastric air volume (GAV), total gastric volume (TGV), and GAV/gastric content volume (GCV) ratio values were estimated. @*Results@#In healthy controls (n=30), GAV and TGV values were in the range 5.0-35.0 mL, and 202.0-1,002.0 mL, respectively. The mean GAV and TGV values of OHCA patients (n=97) were 251.0 mL (range, 55.5-896.0) and 878.0 mL (range, 430.5-1,696.0), respectively. Significant between-group differences were determined in the mean GCV, GAV, and GAV/GCV ratio values. In OHCA patients, the cut-off value for abnormal GAV was defined as 56.5 mL (mean value plus two times standard deviation). Patients with abnormal GAV findings on MDCT scans had a longer duration from arrest to the return of spontaneous circulation, low body mass index, and increased rates of lactic acidosis. @*Conclusion@#Our results indicate an association between gastric air accumulation after resuscitation with longer recovery from arrest to return of spontaneous circulation, low body mass index, and increased lactic acidosis.