Abstract:
Aims
Routine performance of solid gastric emptying (GE) to assess gastroparesis is not feasible
due to prolonged test duration and cumbersome preparation of test meals. Substitution of a
commercially prepared semisolid meal could increase feasibility. This study compared GE of
a solid and semi-solid meal.
Methods and materials used
Thirty (30) healthy volunteers underwent gastric emptying by real-time ultrasonography after
partaking a solid meal (Mung kiribath) and semi-solid meal (‗Nestum mung‘) on two separate
days. The calorie content of each meal was 350 Kcal and consisted of approximately 60%
carbohydrates, 30% fat and 10% proteins. The pyloric antral area, amplitude and frequency of
contractions were measured at 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210 and 240 minutes after
ingestion.
GE parameters were compared and correlated by using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test and
Spearman Rank Correlation. A P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results
The subjects were 17 males (mean (SD) age 29.4 (6.0) years, BMI 23.4 (2.94)) and 13
females (mean (SD) age 37.2 3 (11.9) years, BMI 22.9 (4.34)).
Mean (SE) fasting antral area, antral areas, gastric emptying rates (GER) and gastric residual
ratios at each time point did not differ significantly between the meals. At the end of 4 hours,
the mean emptied percentage of the semisolid meal and solid meal was 81.1% and 70.6%
respectively. GER of semisolid meal at 90min significantly correlated with GER at 240min.
There was no correlation of the solid meal with the 90min and 240min GER.
Conclusions
A semisolid meal could be substituted in place of a solid test meal. A gastric emptying test
can be performed in 90min when utilizing a semisolid meal as opposed to 4 hours when
utilizing a solid meal. Ease in preparation of the semisolid meal and reduction in test time
increases test feasibility.
