Evaluating nurse-performed gastric ultrasound after surgery

Feasibility of Nurse-performed Gastric Point-of-care Ultrasound to Determine Gastric Content After Gastro-intestinal and Oncologic Surgery: a Pilot Study

Radboud University Medical Center · NCT06620549

This study tests if trained nurses can use gastric ultrasound to check how well patients who had major stomach surgery can handle eating again.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment135 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorRadboud University Medical Center (other)
Locations2 sites (Nijmegen, Gelderland and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06620549 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the feasibility of nurses performing gastric ultrasound to assess gastric content in patients who have undergone major gastrointestinal surgery. Gastric ultrasound is a quick and non-invasive method that can help evaluate the ability of patients to tolerate oral foods post-surgery. The study will involve adult patients who have had specific types of gastrointestinal surgeries and will assess the practicality of this approach in a clinical setting. The goal is to determine if trained nurses can effectively use this technique to monitor patients' recovery.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults over 18 who have undergone major gastrointestinal surgeries such as colorectal resection or pancreatic procedures.

Not a fit: Patients with open abdominal wounds or those experiencing abdominal pain that prevents adequate ultrasound assessment may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance patient monitoring and recovery by providing timely assessments of gastric content post-surgery.

How similar studies have performed: While the feasibility of nurse-performed gastric ultrasound has been explored in healthy volunteers, this specific application in post-surgical patients is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patients (\>18 years)
* Underwent gastrointestinal surgery:

  * partial liver resection,
  * colorectal resection,
  * HIPEC,
  * pancreatic procedures including Whipple procedures for pancreatic cancer or pancreatic disorders,
  * other gastro- intestinal abdominal procedures such as resections of sarcomas, correction of herniation.
* Obtained written informed consent.
* Admitted for at least 3 days.

Exclusion Criteria:

* patients with open abdominal wounds or with abdominal pain hindering adequate gastric ultrasound
* patients with a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy catheter

Where this trial is running

Nijmegen, Gelderland and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Point-of-care-ultrasound, Gastric Ultrasonography, Gastric Ultrasound, Gastro Intestinal Surgery, Nursing, Abdominal Surgeries

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.