GASTRIC EMPTYING OF SOLID MEAL IN NORMALS

Abstract

For the evaluation of solid meal emptying, radioisotope scanning of labeled solid meal is widely accepted. We have developed a labeled solid meal which can be prepared easily and is stable in gastric juice. This test meal is consisted of ^99mTc Sn-colloid labeled omelet, served with toast and milk, with total calorie of 590 kcal. Tagged omelet in human gastric juice showed 12% of isotope liberation into liquid phase in 2 hours.
Gastric emptying study was performed in 10 healthy male volunteers. Gastric emptying curve showed initial plateau phase followed by linear regression. This is typical pattern for solid emptying. The starting index was 31±9 minutes (mean±SD) and the retention rate of isotope in stomach after 150 minutes was 37±19% (mean±SD).
We conclude that ^99mTc-labeled omelet is useful in gastric emptying study.