Semaglutide, delayed gastric emptying, and intraoperative pulmonary aspiration: a case report

PurposeWe report a case in which the use of semaglutide for weight loss was associated with delayed gastric emptying and intraoperative pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents.Clinical featuresA 42-yr-old patient with Barrett's esophagus underwent repeat upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and ablation of dysplastic mucosa. Two months earlier, the patient had started weekly injections of semaglutide for weight loss. Despite having fasted for 18 hr, and differing from the findings of prior procedures, endoscopy revealed substantial gastric content, which was suctioned before endotracheal intubation. Food remains were removed from the trachea and bronchi using bronchoscopy. The patient was extubated four hours later and remained asymptomatic.ConclusionPatients using semaglutide and other glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists for weight management may require specific precautions during induction of anesthesia to prevent pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents.

Automated summary

This case report discusses the association between the use of semaglutide for weight loss and delayed gastric emptying, as well as intraoperative pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents. A 42-year-old patient with Barrett's esophagus, who had been receiving semaglutide injections for weight loss, experienced substantial gastric content during an endoscopy procedure despite fasting for 18 hours. The patient required suctioning and bronchoscopy to remove food remains from the trachea and bronchi.