Name of the Procedure:

Gastric Emptying Imaging Study (with Small Bowel Transit) Common Names: Gastric Emptying Test, Gastric Emptying Scan

Summary

The gastric emptying imaging study is a non-invasive medical test that evaluates how quickly food leaves the stomach and moves through the small intestine. It involves ingesting food or liquids containing small amounts of radioactive materials to monitor their movement through the digestive system using a special imaging camera.

Purpose

Medical Condition: Diagnoses disorders that affect the speed at which the stomach empties and small bowel functions, such as gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and other motility disorders. Goals/Outcomes: To determine whether the stomach is emptying properly into the small intestine and to identify any delays in the transit of food through the digestive system, which can guide treatment plans.

Indications

Symptoms/Conditions: Chronic nausea, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, early satiety, bloating, abdominal pain, suspected gastroparesis, or other gastrointestinal motility issues. Patient Criteria: Patients with persistent digestive symptoms despite standard treatments, individuals suspected to have motility disorders, or those failed other diagnostic tests.

Preparation

Pre-Procedure Instructions:

• Fasting: Typically, patients are required to fast for at least 6 to 8 hours before the test.
• Medication Adjustments: Certain medications that affect gastrointestinal motility may need to be paused (consult the healthcare provider).
• Diagnostic Tests: Patients might undergo a basic physical examination or other preliminary tests as required by their healthcare provider.

Procedure Description

1. Ingestion: The patient consumes a meal or beverage mixed with a small amount of radioactive material (typically a radio-labeled egg sandwich or oatmeal for solid meals, liquids like milk).
2. Imaging: The patient lies under a gamma camera that takes periodic images of the abdomen to track the movement of the radioactive material through the stomach and small intestine. The imaging times are usually at specific intervals such as immediately after ingestion, then at 1, 2, and 4 hours post-meal.
3. Analysis: The images are analyzed to measure the rate of gastric emptying and small bowel transit.

Tools/Equipment: Gamma camera, radio-labeled meal. Anesthesia/Sedation: None required.

Duration

Procedure Time: The entire process can take between 2 to 4 hours, depending on the specifics of the meal and imaging schedule.

Setting

Location: Typically performed in a hospital's nuclear medicine department or an outpatient imaging center.

Personnel

Involved Professionals: Nuclear medicine technologists, radiologists, and sometimes gastroenterologists.

Risks and Complications

Common Risks: Minimal, mainly exposure to a small amount of radiation. Rare Risks: Allergic reactions to the radioactive material (extremely rare), minor discomfort from fasting.

Benefits

Expected Benefits: Accurate diagnosis of gastric motility disorders, aiding in developing a targeted treatment plan. Timeframe for Results: Results are usually available within a couple of days after the procedure.

Recovery

Post-Procedure Care: There are generally no special post-procedure care instructions. Patients can typically resume normal diet and activities immediately. Recovery Time: Immediate, with no downtime required. Follow-up: Based on test results, the healthcare provider will discuss the next steps.

Alternatives

Other Options:

• Alternative Tests: Upper GI series, endoscopy, breath tests.
• Pros and Cons: Alternatives may be less accurate for diagnosing motility issues but potentially less expensive or readily available.

Patient Experience

During Procedure: Patients might feel normal activities of digesting a meal, and periodic movements to image under the gamma camera. After Procedure: Normal comfort levels should resume quickly post-procedure with minimal or no side effects. Pain management is generally not required for this test, as it is non-invasive.