Gastric emptying
studies for Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastric emptying studies are studies with the purpose of
determine how well food empties from the stomach. As discussed above, about 20
% of patients with Gastroesophageal reflux disease have slow emptying of the
stomach that may be result to the reflux of acid. For gastric emptying studies,
the patient eats a meal that is label with a radioactive substance. A sensor
that is similar to a Geiger counter is placed over the stomach to measure how
quickly the radioactive substance in the meal empties from the stomach.
Information from the emptying study can be useful for
patients with Gastroesophageal reflux disease. For example, if a patient with Gastroesophageal
reflux disease continues to have symptoms despite treatment with the usual
medications, doctors might prescribe other medications that speed-up emptying
of the stomach.
Symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and regurgitation may be due
either to abnormal gastric emptying or Gastroesophageal reflux disease. An
evaluation of gastric emptying, therefore, may be useful in identifying
patients whose symptoms are due to abnormal emptying of the stomach rather than
to Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
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