COMMON DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

GASTRIC EMPTYING

Gastric emptying is a nuclear medicine procedure for the diagnosis of gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach takes unusually longer than usual to expel the food in the small bowel. It occurs more frequently in-patients with diabetes.

How is it performed?
You will eat breakfast consisting of eggs, bread and a danish. The eggs contain a small dose of radioactive compound which, once in your stomach, is detected by a gamma camera positioned around your stomach. Computer-based analysis of the pictures of your stomach determines how long it takes for your stomach to empty.

Preparation
You should not eat or drink for approximately 4 hours before coming for the examination.

Side effects
None

How long does it take?
Once you have completed your breakfast, repeated pictures of your stomach are taken for 2 hours.