Role of antral motility in gastric emptying of liquids: A paediatric study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Emptying of liquids from the stomach was thought to be primarily a function of the pressure gradient between the stomach and the duodenum. Sustained contractions of the proximal stomach were thought to be responsible for the basal intragastric pressure. The distal stomach (mainly the antrum) was considered to be mainly responsible for solid gastric emptying. But recent studies have shown that antral contractions also play an important role in emptying of liquids. OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between liquid gastric emptying and antral motility. METHODS: Sixty-two children (age 5-15years) were recruited. After overnight fasting, all subjects consumed a standard liquid test meal (2GOmL of chicken broth, 54.8kJ) within 2 min. Gastric emptying and antral motility were recorded simultaneously using real-time ultrasound scanner with.3.5MHz and 5MHz curve-linear transducers using a previously reported method. The percentage emptying at ISmin was correlated with frequency and amplitude of antral contractions, and antral motility index. RESULTS: Twenty healthy children and 42 children with recurrent abdominal pain [29 (46.8%) males, mean age S.Tyears, SD Syears] were investigated. Liquid gastric emptying had significant positive correlation with the amplitude of antral contractions (r=0.44, p<O.G01) and the motility index (r=0.49, p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between the liquid emptying and the frequency of antral contractions though not significant (r=0.23, p=0.072). CONCLUSION: The emptying of the liquids from the stomach significantly correlated with the motility of the gastric antrum. The antral motility probably plays an important role in liquid gastric emptying than previously suggested.