643 lines
44 KiB
HTML
643 lines
44 KiB
HTML
|
||
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
||
<html lang="en" id="lab_test" class="nojs us" data-root="https://medlineplus.gov/">
|
||
|
||
<head>
|
||
|
||
<meta charset="utf-8" />
|
||
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1" />
|
||
<meta http-equiv="window-target" content="_top" />
|
||
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />
|
||
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<link rel="canonical" href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/gastric-emptying-tests/" />
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/gastric-emptying-tests/" />
|
||
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="es" href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/pruebas-de-laboratorio/pruebas-de-vaciamiento-gastrico/" />
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<meta name="ac-dictionary" content="medlineplus-ac-dictionary" />
|
||
|
||
<meta name="description" content="Gastric emptying tests measure how long it takes for food to empty from your stomach. Emptying too fast or too slow may be a sign of a health issue. Learn more." />
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://medlineplus.gov/images/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />
|
||
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://medlineplus.gov/images/touch-icon.png" />
|
||
|
||
|
||
<meta property="fb:app_id" content="1042245625821448" />
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<meta property="og:title" content="Gastric Emptying Tests: MedlinePlus Medical Test" />
|
||
<meta property="og:url" content="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/gastric-emptying-tests/" />
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/LabTests_Share.jpg" />
|
||
|
||
<meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/LabTest_Share2.jpg" />
|
||
|
||
<meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/LabTests_Share3.jpg" />
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<meta property="og:description" content="Gastric emptying tests measure how long it takes for food to empty from your stomach. Emptying too fast or too slow may be a sign of a health issue. Learn more." />
|
||
|
||
|
||
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:site" content="@medlineplus" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:creator" content="@medlineplus" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Gastric Emptying Tests: MedlinePlus Medical Test" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Gastric emptying tests measure how long it takes for food to empty from your stomach. Emptying too fast or too slow may be a sign of a health issue. Learn more." />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/LabTests_Share.jpg" />
|
||
|
||
<meta name="twitter:image:alt" content=""/>
|
||
<meta property="og:image:alt" content="" />
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<title>Gastric Emptying Tests: MedlinePlus Medical Test</title>
|
||
|
||
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/common_new.css?1738957219210" />
|
||
<!--[if IE 8]> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/ie8/common.css"> <![endif]-->
|
||
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/css/uswds_styles.css" />
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<script type="text/javascript">document.getElementsByTagName('html')[0].className = document.getElementsByTagName('html')[0].className.replace( /(?:^|\s)nojs(?!\S)/g , '').trim();</script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds-init.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':
|
||
new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],
|
||
j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src=
|
||
'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);
|
||
})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-MMVM77');</script>
|
||
</head>
|
||
|
||
<body>
|
||
|
||
<noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MMVM77"
|
||
height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden" title="googletagmanager"></iframe></noscript>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a name="top" id="top"></a>
|
||
<a class="hide-offscreen" href="#start">Skip navigation</a>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<section
|
||
class="usa-banner"
|
||
aria-label="Official website of the United States government"
|
||
>
|
||
<div class="usa-accordion">
|
||
<header class="usa-banner__header">
|
||
<div class="usa-banner__inner">
|
||
<div class="grid-col-auto">
|
||
<img
|
||
aria-hidden="true"
|
||
class="usa-banner__header-flag"
|
||
src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/us_flag_small.png"
|
||
alt=""
|
||
/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto" aria-hidden="true">
|
||
<p class="usa-banner__header-text">
|
||
An official website of the United States government
|
||
</p>
|
||
<p class="usa-banner__header-action">Here’s how you know</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<button
|
||
type="button"
|
||
class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button"
|
||
aria-expanded="false"
|
||
aria-controls="gov-banner-default-default"
|
||
>
|
||
<span class="usa-banner__button-text">Here’s how you know</span>
|
||
</button>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</header>
|
||
<div
|
||
class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content"
|
||
id="gov-banner-default-default"
|
||
>
|
||
<div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg">
|
||
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
|
||
<img
|
||
class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img"
|
||
src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-dot-gov.svg"
|
||
role="img"
|
||
alt=""
|
||
aria-hidden="true"
|
||
/>
|
||
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
|
||
<p>
|
||
<strong>Official websites use .gov</strong><br />A
|
||
<strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government
|
||
organization in the United States.
|
||
</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
|
||
<img
|
||
class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img"
|
||
src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-https.svg"
|
||
role="img"
|
||
alt=""
|
||
aria-hidden="true"
|
||
/>
|
||
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
|
||
<p>
|
||
<strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong><br />A
|
||
<strong>lock</strong> (
|
||
<span class="icon-lock"
|
||
><svg
|
||
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
|
||
width="52"
|
||
height="64"
|
||
viewBox="0 0 52 64"
|
||
class="usa-banner__lock-image"
|
||
role="img"
|
||
aria-labelledby="banner-lock-description-default"
|
||
focusable="false"
|
||
>
|
||
<title id="banner-lock-title-default">Lock</title>
|
||
<desc id="banner-lock-description-default">Locked padlock icon</desc>
|
||
<path
|
||
fill="#000000"
|
||
fill-rule="evenodd"
|
||
d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z"
|
||
/>
|
||
</svg> </span
|
||
>) or <strong>https://</strong> means you’ve safely connected to
|
||
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
|
||
secure websites.
|
||
</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div id="mplus-wrap">
|
||
<header>
|
||
<div id="mplus-header">
|
||
|
||
<div id="mplus-orgs">
|
||
<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" class="nih-org" target="_blank" title="National Institutes of Health">
|
||
<img class="nihlogo" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nihlogo.png" alt="National Institutes of Health"/>
|
||
</a><a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/" target="_blank"> National Library of Medicine</a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div id="mplus-logo" class="years-25">
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/">
|
||
<img alt="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You" title="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/m_logo_25.png"/>
|
||
</a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div id="mplus-nav">
|
||
|
||
<div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div>
|
||
<button id="sm-menu-btn" class="navmenu-btn" title="Menu" role="button" aria-controls="mplus-menu-list" type="submit">Menu<span class="icon icon-nav-menu"></span></button>
|
||
<ul id="mplus-menu-list" class="nav-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs & Supplements</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li>
|
||
</ul><button id="sm-search-btn" class="navmenu-btn" title="Search" role="button" aria-controls="mplus-search" type="submit"><span class="hide-offscreen"></span>Search<span class="icon icon-nav-search"></span></button>
|
||
|
||
<div class="top-1">
|
||
|
||
<form id="mplus-search" method="get" action="https://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta" title="Search MedlinePlus" target="_self">
|
||
|
||
<input type="hidden" name="v:project" value="medlineplus"/>
|
||
<input type="hidden" name="v:sources" value="medlineplus-bundle"/>
|
||
|
||
<div class="form-box text-combo">
|
||
<div class="form-area"><label class="hide-offscreen" for="searchtext_primary">Search MedlinePlus</label>
|
||
<input id="searchtext_primary" class="form-text" type="text" placeholder="Search MedlinePlus" alt="#Site Search input" title="Site Search input" maxlength="400" size="40" name="query" autocomplete="off" role="textbox" aria-autocomplete="list" aria-haspopup="true"/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="button-area">
|
||
<button class="form-btn" title="Search MedlinePlus" alt="Search MedlinePlus" type="submit">GO</button>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</form>
|
||
|
||
<div class="secondarynav">
|
||
<ul class="nav-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/"><span>About MedlinePlus</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/">What's New</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html"><span>Site Map</span></a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&category=medlineplus&from=https%3A//medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/gastric-emptying-tests/" target="_blank"><span>Customer Support</span></a></li>
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div id="mplus-nav-bar">
|
||
<ul class="nav-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs & Supplements</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a id="mplus-lang-toggle" href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/pruebas-de-laboratorio/pruebas-de-vaciamiento-gastrico/" title="Español">Español</a>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</header>
|
||
|
||
<div id="mplus-content">
|
||
|
||
<div id="breadcrumbs">
|
||
<div itemprop="breadcrumb" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList">
|
||
<span class="hide-offscreen">You Are Here:</span>
|
||
<div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem">
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Home</span></a>
|
||
→
|
||
<meta itemprop="position" content="1"/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem">
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Medical Tests</span></a>
|
||
→
|
||
<meta itemprop="position" content="2"/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div>
|
||
<span>Gastric Emptying Tests</span>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<span class="page-url print-only">URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/gastric-emptying-tests/</span>
|
||
|
||
<div >
|
||
|
||
<article>
|
||
<div class="page-info">
|
||
<div class="page-title">
|
||
<a name="start" id="start"></a>
|
||
<h1>Gastric Emptying Tests</h1>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="page-actions"></div>
|
||
<noscript><span class="js-disabled-message">To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript.</span></noscript>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="main">
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>What are gastric emptying tests?</h2>
|
||
<p>Gastric emptying tests measure the time it takes for food to empty out of your stomach. After a meal, it usually takes around four hours for 90 percent of the food to move out of your stomach and into your small intestine. But if your stomach empties too fast or too slow, it could be a sign of a health issue.</p>
|
||
<p>When your <strong><a data-tid="420" href="https://medlineplus.gov/stomachdisorders.html">stomach</a> empties too slowly</strong> (longer than normal), it may be a sign of delayed gastric emptying, called <strong>gastroparesis</strong>. It's often difficult to find the cause of gastroparesis, but <a data-tid="4" href="https://medlineplus.gov/diabetes.html">diabetes</a> is the most common underlying cause since it can damage some of the nerves in your stomach. Other causes of gastroparesis can include:</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a data-tid="6175" href="https://medlineplus.gov/hypothyroidism.html">Hypothyroidism</a></li>
|
||
<li>Injury to your esophagus (the muscular tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to the stomach), stomach, or small intestine during surgery</li>
|
||
<li>Certain <a data-tid="394" href="https://medlineplus.gov/scleroderma.html">autoimmune diseases</a></li>
|
||
<li>Nervous system disorders such as <a data-tid="85" href="https://medlineplus.gov/parkinsonsdisease.html">Parkinson's disease</a> and <a data-tid="83" href="https://medlineplus.gov/multiplesclerosis.html">multiple sclerosis</a></li>
|
||
<li>A <a data-tid="454" href="https://medlineplus.gov/viralinfections.html">viral infection</a> of your stomach</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p>If food stays in your stomach for too long, it can harden into a solid mass called a bezoar. A bezoar may lead to a dangerous blockage that prevents food from passing into your small intestine.</p>
|
||
<p>Gastroparesis may also cause <a data-tid="5461" href="https://medlineplus.gov/malnutrition.html">malnutrition</a> (not getting enough nutrients from your food).</p>
|
||
<p>When your <strong>stomach empties too rapidly</strong> (faster than normal), it may be a sign of <strong>dumping syndrome</strong>. Dumping syndrome happens when your stomach empties food too quickly into your small intestine. It is usually associated with surgery on your stomach (such as <a data-tid="3302" href="https://medlineplus.gov/weightlosssurgery.html">weight loss surgery</a>) or your esophagus.</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>If you have symptoms such as <a data-tid="211" href="https://medlineplus.gov/diarrhea.html">diarrhea</a>, bloating, or <a data-tid="489" href="https://medlineplus.gov/nauseaandvomiting.html">nausea</a> within 30 minutes after eating, it may be a sign of early dumping syndrome, which is more common than late dumping syndrome.</li>
|
||
<li>If you have symptoms such as feeling light-headed, tired, or a <a data-tid="147" href="https://medlineplus.gov/arrhythmia.html">fast heartbeat</a> within one to three hours after eating a meal, it may be a sign of late dumping syndrome.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p>Gastric emptying tests may help you get treatment for gastroparesis and other digestive system issues before they cause serious complications.</p>
|
||
<p>Other names: gastric emptying study, gastric emptying scan, gastric emptying scintigraphy, smart pill, wireless motility study, gastric emptying breath test, upper GI series, barium swallow</p></div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>What are they used for?</h2>
|
||
<p>Gastric emptying tests are most often used to diagnose gastroparesis. They may also be used to check for other problems with food passing through your stomach.</p></div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>Why do I need a gastric emptying test?</h2>
|
||
<p>You may need this test if you have symptoms of gastroparesis, which include:</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a data-tid="3061" href="https://medlineplus.gov/abdominalpain.html">Abdominal (belly) pain</a></li>
|
||
<li>Bloating</li>
|
||
<li>Nausea and vomiting</li>
|
||
<li>A feeling of fullness after just a few bites of food</li>
|
||
<li>Loss of appetite</li>
|
||
<li>Weight loss</li>
|
||
</ul></div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>What happens during a gastric emptying test?</h2>
|
||
<p>Gastric emptying tests are most often done by a radiologist or radiology technician. A radiologist is a doctor who specializes in using imaging tests to diagnose and treat diseases and injuries. There are different types of tests. You may have one or more of the following tests:</p>
|
||
<p><strong>Gastric emptying study</strong>, also known as a gastric emptying scan, or gastric emptying scintigraphy. This is the most common test used to diagnose gastroparesis. During this test:</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>You will start by eating a light meal, often eggs and toast. The food will contain a small, harmless amount of radioactive material called a tracer.</li>
|
||
<li>After you finish eating, you will lie down on an <a data-tid="3949" href="https://medlineplus.gov/xrays.html">x-ray</a> table.</li>
|
||
<li>The radiologist will take images of your abdomen using a scanning device.</li>
|
||
<li>The radiologist will watch the movements of the radioactive tracer on a monitor. The tracer will show how food travels through your stomach.</li>
|
||
<li>Additional images will be taken over the next few hours to see how long it takes for food to move out of your stomach and into your small intestine.</li>
|
||
<li>You can get up and leave the exam room during this time. Your provider will let you know when you need to return for imaging. It's usually at around 1, 2, and 4 hours after the first image was taken.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p>A gastric emptying study may also be done using a liquid containing the radioactive tracer instead of solid food. Since liquids move through your stomach differently, your provider may want to perform a liquid gastric emptying test with your gastric emptying study or as a follow-up.</p>
|
||
<p><strong>Upper GI series</strong>, also known as a <a data-pid="24354" href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/barium-swallow/">barium swallow</a>. During this test:</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>You will swallow a chalky-tasting liquid that contains barium. Barium is a substance that coats your internal organs and tissues so they can be seen more clearly on an x-ray.</li>
|
||
<li>You will lie on an x-ray table.</li>
|
||
<li>A special type of x-ray called a fluoroscopy will track the barium in real-time as a live video as it moves through your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.</li>
|
||
<li>You may be asked to hold your breath at certain times.</li>
|
||
<li>You may be asked to change positions while more images are taken.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p><strong>Gastric emptying breath test.</strong> During this test:</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>You will eat a meal or drink a liquid that contains a type of protein that your body absorbs. The substance eventually passes into your breath.</li>
|
||
<li>A provider will collect samples of your breath over a period of about four hours.</li>
|
||
<li>You may be able to leave the exam room during this period but must sit quietly. You should not smoke or eat while you wait. Your provider will let you know when you need to return for imaging.</li>
|
||
<li>The amount of substance in your breath samples can help show how fast your stomach has emptied.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p><strong>Smart pill</strong>, also known as a <strong>wireless motility capsule</strong>. During this test:</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>You will swallow a smart pill, a pill-sized wireless electronic device.</li>
|
||
<li>You will then proceed with your normal daily activities.</li>
|
||
<li>As you go through your day, the smart pill will travel through your gastrointestinal system and collect data.</li>
|
||
<li>The data is sent to a receiver you wear, usually around your waist.</li>
|
||
<li>After a day or two, the smart pill will leave your body in a bowel movement (poop).</li>
|
||
<li>You may not feel it when the smart pill exits your body. So when you have a bowel movement, wait 3 minutes before flushing. This will ensure the receiver you wear on your body captures the data, even after the capsule leaves your body.</li>
|
||
<li>After 4 or 5 days, you will return the receiver to the radiologist, who will review the results.</li>
|
||
</ul></div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?</h2>
|
||
<p>You may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before your test. Your provider will also let you know if you need to stop taking certain medicines before your test.</p></div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>Are there any risks to the test?</h2>
|
||
<p>You should not have a <strong>gastric emptying study or an upper GI series</strong> if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. Radiation from these imaging tests can be <a data-tid="39" href="https://medlineplus.gov/reproductivehazards.html">harmful to a developing baby</a>.</p>
|
||
<p>For others, there is little risk to having an imaging test. The dose of radiation is very low and not considered harmful for most people. But talk to your provider about all the x-rays you've had in the past. The risks from <a data-tid="379" href="https://medlineplus.gov/radiationexposure.html">radiation exposure</a> may be linked to the number of x-ray treatments you've had over time.</p>
|
||
<p>If you're having an upper GI series, tell your provider if you have any known allergies to the barium used in the test. Also, your poop may look white for several days after the test as you pass the barium. You may have <a data-tid="200" href="https://medlineplus.gov/constipation.html">constipation</a> if all the barium doesn't pass out of your body.</p>
|
||
<p>There is very little risk to having a <strong>gastric breath test or taking a smart pill</strong>. In rare cases, a smart pill may get stuck in your digestive system. If the pill takes longer than several days to leave your body in a bowel movement, contact your provider.</p></div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>What do the results mean?</h2>
|
||
<p>If your results show it took a <strong>longer-than-normal</strong> time for your stomach to empty, it could mean you have gastroparesis.</p>
|
||
<p>If your results show it took a <strong>shorter-than-normal</strong> time for your stomach to empty, it could mean you have dumping syndrome.</p>
|
||
<p>If you have questions about your results, talk to your provider. Your provider may also consider your symptoms and medical history to understand your results.</p></div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>Is there anything else I need to know about gastric emptying tests?</h2>
|
||
<p>Treatment for gastroparesis may involve taking certain medicines and/or treating the condition causing the problem, such as diabetes.</p>
|
||
<p>Regardless of the cause, your provider will likely recommend changing your diet and eating habits. These may include:</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>Eating foods low in <a data-tid="3059" href="https://medlineplus.gov/dietaryfiber.html">fiber</a> and <a data-tid="3593" href="https://medlineplus.gov/dietaryfats.html">fat</a>.</li>
|
||
<li>Avoiding carbonated drinks, <a data-tid="1359" href="https://medlineplus.gov/quittingsmoking.html">smoking</a>, and <a data-tid="1558" href="https://medlineplus.gov/alcohol.html">alcohol</a>.</li>
|
||
<li>Eating smaller meals throughout the day rather than two or three large meals.</li>
|
||
<li>Chewing food thoroughly.</li>
|
||
<li>Waiting at least two hours after eating before lying down.</li>
|
||
</ul></div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="mp-refs mp-content"><h2>References</h2>
|
||
<ol>
|
||
<li>ACR: American College of Radiology [Internet]. Reston (VA): American College of Radiology; What Is a Radiologist?; [cited 2024 May 21]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.acr.org/Practice-Management-Quality-Informatics/Practice-Toolkit/Patient-Resources/About-Radiology" target="bibliowin">https://www.acr.org/Practice-Management-Quality-Informatics/Practice-Toolkit/Patient-Resources/About-Radiology</a></li>
|
||
<li>Banks KP, Syed K, Parekh M, et al. Gastric Emptying Scan. [Updated 2023 Sep 4; cited 2024 May 21]; [about 6 screens]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531503/" target="bibliowin">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531503/</a></li>
|
||
<li>Boston Children's Hospital [Internet]. Boston: Boston Children's Hospital; c2005-2024. What is a gastric emptying study?; [cited 2024 May 21]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/treatments/gastric-emptying-study" target="bibliowin">https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/treatments/gastric-emptying-study</a></li>
|
||
<li>Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic; c2024. Gastric Emptying Study; [reviewed 2023 Sep 20; cited 2024 May 21]; [about 9 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/gastric-emptying-study" target="bibliowin">https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/gastric-emptying-study</a></li>
|
||
<li>Familydoctor.org [Internet]. Leawood (KS): American Academy of Family Physicians; c2024. Gastroparesis; [updated 2022 Sep 22; cited 2024 May 21]; [about 7 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://familydoctor.org/condition/gastroparesis" target="bibliowin">https://familydoctor.org/condition/gastroparesis</a></li>
|
||
<li>International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders [Internet]. International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders; c1998-2024. About Gastroparesis: Diagnosis and Tests; [updated 2023 Oct; cited 2024 May 21]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://aboutgastroparesis.org/diagnosis-tests.html" target="bibliowin">https://aboutgastroparesis.org/diagnosis-tests.html</a></li>
|
||
<li>Johns Hopkins Medicine [Internet]. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University; c2024. Health: Gastroparesis; [cited 2024 May 21]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/gastroparesis" target="bibliowin">https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/gastroparesis</a></li>
|
||
<li>Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998-2024. Gastroparesis: Diagnosis and treatment; [cited 2024 May 21]; [about 10 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastroparesis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355792" target="bibliowin">https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastroparesis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355792</a></li>
|
||
<li>Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998-2024. Gastroparesis: Symptoms and causes; [cited 2024 May 21]; [about 5 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastroparesis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355787" target="bibliowin">https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastroparesis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355787</a></li>
|
||
<li>Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co. Inc.; c2024. Nuclear Scans of the Digestive Tract; [updated 2023 Mar; cited 2024 May 21]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/digestive-disorders/diagnosis-of-digestive-disorders/nuclear-scans-of-the-digestive-tract?query=gastric%20emptying#v43716398" target="bibliowin">https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/digestive-disorders/diagnosis-of-digestive-disorders/nuclear-scans-of-the-digestive-tract?query=gastric%20emptying#v43716398</a></li>
|
||
<li>National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Definitions and Facts for Gastroparesis; 2018 Jan [cited 2024 May 21]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gastroparesis/definition-facts" target="bibliowin">https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gastroparesis/definition-facts</a></li>
|
||
<li>National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Diagnosis of Gastroparesis; 2018 Jan [cited 2024 May 21]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gastroparesis/diagnosis" target="bibliowin">https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gastroparesis/diagnosis</a></li>
|
||
<li>National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Definitions & Facts for Dumping Syndrome; 2019 Jan [cited 2024 May 21]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/dumping-syndrome/definition-facts" target="bibliowin">https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/dumping-syndrome/definition-facts</a></li>
|
||
<li>National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Symptoms and Causes of Gastroparesis; 2018 Jan [cited 2024 May 21]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gastroparesis/symptoms-causes" target="bibliowin">https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gastroparesis/symptoms-causes</a></li>
|
||
<li>RadiologyInfo.org [Internet]. Radiological Society of North America, Inc.; c2024. X-ray (radiography) - Upper GI Tract; [reviewed 2022 Apr 15; cited 2024 May 21]; [about 5 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=uppergi#benefits-risks" target="bibliowin">https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=uppergi#benefits-risks</a></li>
|
||
<li>Thorsen Y, Stimec BV, Nesgaard JM, Ignjatovic D. Detecting the Non-physiological, Surgically Tailored Ileocolic Anastomosis Using the Wireless Motility Capsule. A Pre- and Post-operative, Prospective, Within Subject Trial. J Neurogastroenterol Motil [Internet]. 2017 Oct [cited 2024 May 21]; 23(4):585-591. Available from: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5628992" target="bibliowin">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5628992</a></li>
|
||
<li>Verywell Health [Internet]. New York: About, Inc.; c2024. What Does Gastroparesis Feel Like?; [updated 2023 Dec 23; cited 2024 May 21]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-gastroparesis-1741788" target="bibliowin">https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-gastroparesis-1741788</a></li>
|
||
<li>Verywell Health [Internet]. New York: About, Inc.; c2024. Barium Swallow and Small Bowel Follow Through; 2020 Mar 11 [cited 2021 Mar 21]; [about 6 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.verywellhealth.com/barium-x-rays-1742250" target="bibliowin">https://www.verywellhealth.com/barium-x-rays-1742250</a></li>
|
||
<li>Verywell Health [Internet]. New York: About, Inc.; c2024. Gastric Emptying Study: Test Prep, Purpose, Results; [updated 2023 Nov 27; cited 2024 May 21]; [about 8 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.verywellhealth.com/gastric-emptying-scan-procedure-4587997" target="bibliowin">https://www.verywellhealth.com/gastric-emptying-scan-procedure-4587997</a></li>
|
||
</ol></div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="side">
|
||
<aside>
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="side-section">
|
||
<div class="section-header">
|
||
<h2>Related Health Topics</h2>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="section-body">
|
||
<ul class="relatedmp">
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/abdominalpain.html">Abdominal Pain</a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/malnutrition.html">Malnutrition</a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/nauseaandvomiting.html">Nausea and Vomiting</a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/stomachdisorders.html">Stomach Disorders</a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/xrays.html">X-Rays</a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div></section>
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="side-section">
|
||
<div class="section-header">
|
||
<h2>Related Medical Tests</h2>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="section-body">
|
||
<ul class="relatedmp">
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/barium-swallow/">Barium Swallow</a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/fluoroscopy/">Fluoroscopy</a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/how-to-cope-with-medical-test-anxiety/">How to Cope with Medical Test Anxiety</a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div></section>
|
||
|
||
</aside>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class="bottom">
|
||
|
||
<section><div class="lt-disclaimer">
|
||
<p>The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</article>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div id="citation-how-to">
|
||
<button><span>Learn how to cite this page</span></button>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<footer>
|
||
<div id="mplus-footer">
|
||
<div class="footer1">
|
||
|
||
<ul class="secondarynav">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/">What's New</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html">Site Map</a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&category=medlineplus&from=https%3A//medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/gastric-emptying-tests/" target="_blank"><span>Customer Support</span></a></li>
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
|
||
<ul class="follow-footer">
|
||
<li>
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/rss.html" class="follow-item">Subscribe to RSS<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/feed.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="RSS" title="RSS"></a>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<li>
|
||
<span class="follow-label">Follow us</span>
|
||
<a href="https://twitter.com/medlineplus" class="follow-item" target="_blank">
|
||
<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_twitter.png" class="follow-icon" alt="X" title="X">
|
||
</a>
|
||
<a href="https://facebook.com/Mplus.gov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank">
|
||
<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_fb.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Facebook" title="Facebook">
|
||
</a>
|
||
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mplusgov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank">
|
||
<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/Instagram_Glyph_Gradient_RGB.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Instagram" title="Instagram">
|
||
</a>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<li>
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/social-media-toolkit/" class="social-media-toolkit-item">Social Media Toolkit<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_social_media_toolkit.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="Social Media Toolkit" title="Social Media Toolkit"></a>
|
||
</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="footer2">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li><a href=" https://www.nlm.nih.gov/web_policies.html" target='_blank'>NLM Web Policies</a></li>
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/usingcontent/" >Copyright</a></li>
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/accessibility.html">Accessibility</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/criteria/">Guidelines for Links</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/plugins.html">Viewers & Players</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html" target="_blank">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure</a></li>
|
||
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/medlineplus-connect/">MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/developers/">For Developers</a></li>
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
|
||
<div class="address">
|
||
<a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Library of Medicine</a>
|
||
<span>8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894</span>
|
||
<a href="https://www.hhs.gov" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a>
|
||
<a href="https://www.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Institutes of Health</a>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class="date">
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<span id="lastupdate">Last updated September 16, 2024</span>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class="return-top"><a href="#top" title="Return to top"><img class="return-top-icon" alt="Return to top" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/return-top.png"></a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</footer>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/jquery-3.6.0.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-frontend-controls-new.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-share.js?id=1112022" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
||
<!--[if lte IE 9]><script src="//www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/jslib/jquery.placeholder.js" type="text/javascript"></script><![endif]-->
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/control.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<script type='application/ld+json'>{
|
||
"@context": "http://schema.org",
|
||
"@type": "MedicalWebPage",
|
||
"headline": "Gastric Emptying Tests",
|
||
"description": "Gastric emptying tests measure the time it takes for food to empty out of your stomach. After a meal, it usually takes around four hours for 90 percent of the food to move out of your stomach and into your small intestine. But if your stomach empties too fast or too slow, it could be a sign of a health issue. When your stomach empties too slowly (longer than normal), it may be a sign of delayed gastric emptying, called gastroparesis. It's often difficult to find the cause of gastroparesis, but diabetes is the most common underlying cause since it can damage some of the nerves in your stomach. Other causes of gastroparesis can include: Hypothyroidism; Injury to your esophagus (the muscular tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to the stomach), stomach, or small intestine during surgery; Certain autoimmune diseases; Nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis; A viral infection of your stomach; If food stays in your stomach for too long, it can harden into a solid mass called a bezoar. A bezoar may lead to a dangerous blockage that prevents food from passing into your small intestine. Gastroparesis may also cause malnutrition (not getting enough nutrients from your food). When your stomach empties too rapidly (faster than normal), it may be a sign of dumping syndrome. Dumping syndrome happens when your stomach empties food too quickly into your small intestine. It is usually associated with surgery on your stomach (such as weight loss surgery) or your esophagus. If you have symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, or nausea within 30 minutes after eating, it may be a sign of early dumping syndrome, which is more common than late dumping syndrome.; If you have symptoms such as feeling light-headed, tired, or a fast heartbeat within one to three hours after eating a meal, it may be a sign of late dumping syndrome.; Gastric emptying tests may help you get treatment for gastroparesis and other digestive system issues before they cause serious complications. Other names: gastric emptying study, gastric emptying scan, gastric emptying scintigraphy, smart pill, wireless motility study, gastric emptying breath test, upper GI series, barium swallow",
|
||
"url": "https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/gastric-emptying-tests/",
|
||
"publisher": {
|
||
"@type": "Organization",
|
||
"legalName": "National Library of Medicine",
|
||
"url": "https://www.nlm.nih.gov",
|
||
"brand": {
|
||
"@type": "Brand",
|
||
"name": "MedlinePlus",
|
||
"description": "MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. It is a service of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the world's largest medical library, and a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).",
|
||
"url": "https://medlineplus.gov",
|
||
"logo": {
|
||
"@type": "ImageObject",
|
||
"url": "https://medlineplus.gov/images/m_logo_primary.png"
|
||
}
|
||
},
|
||
"parentOrganization": {
|
||
"@type": "Organization",
|
||
"legalName": "National Institutes of Health",
|
||
"url": "https://www.nih.gov"
|
||
}
|
||
}
|
||
}</script>
|
||
|
||
</body>
|
||
</html>
|