Gastric

GASTRIC EMPTYING

The radionuclide gastric emptying study provides a simple noninvasive means of quantitating gastric emptying. Multiple different meals, radionuclide, and imaging protocols have been used to scintigraphically quantitate gastric emptying.  

The procedure for doing a Gastric Emptying study is fairly easy. The patient must have nothing to eat or drink for a minimum of 8 hours prior to imaging. It is preferable to be fasting after midnight the night before. Then perform the test early the next morning.
  

The test is done by having the patient eat a scrambled egg sandwich that is labeled with a small amount of a radionuclide. The patient is also allowed about 8 ounces of water. The meal should be consumed within ten minutes. Once the meal is eaten, the patient is laid on the table for imaging. The imaging takes about 2 hours from start to finish.