GASTROENTEROLOGY ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
May 8, 2008
Abell TL, Camilleri M, Donohoe K, et al. Consensus recommendations for gastric emptying scintigraphy: A joint report of the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society and the Society of Nuclear Medicine. Am J Gastroenterol 2008;103:753-763.
1. Patient preparation prior to gastric emptying testing should include
a. not smoking the morning of the test
b. stopping prokinetics agents 8 hours prior to testing
c. cofirming that serum glucose is <275mg/dL in diabetics
d. stopping opiate narcotics 2 days prior to the test
e. stopping anticholinergics and anti-spasmodics 8 hours prior to testing
True or False
2. Liquid gastric emptying studies are usually not clinically helpful
3. Diabetes mellitus type II can present with rapid gastric emptying early in the disease process
4. Symptoms of late dumping are caused by a rapid release of retained gastric contents
5. Rapid gastric emptying causes diarrhea and cramps, not nausea, bloating and fullness
6. Elevated blood sugar levels as low as 150mg/dL may slow gastric emptying
7. A standardized GE testing protocol should include as a minimum measurements at 0,1,2 and 4 hours.
8. A gastric emptying study should not be done if the blood sugar is >275mg/dL at the time of testing