Ohashi Y, et al. - In this prospective observational study, researchers used bedside gastric ultrasound to measure gastric volumes in fasted patients who presented for non-emergency surgery. Antral cross-sectional area (CSA) in these patients was determined by performing a gastric antrum assessment, using the two-diameter and free-trace methods. A validated formula was used to calculate gastric residual volume (GRV). GRVs posing a pulmonary aspiration risk were still detected in a small percentage of patients, although there was compliance with fasting guidelines. In the selection of anaesthesia techniques, anaesthetists should consider this background incidence. Preoperative bedside gastric ultrasound may assist anaesthetists in identifying patients with ‘at risk’ GRVs.