WHAT IS A GASTRIC EMPTYING STUDY?

A Nuclear Medicine Gastric Emptying Study is performed to determine how fast or slow food is emptying from your Stomach.

This test can also be called a Solid Gastric Emptying Test or Tc99m Gastric Emptying test.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A GASTRIC EMPTYING STUDY?

Part 1. The imaging staff will make you breakfast (usually scrambled eggs on toast). Please inform Staff if you have an egg or bread allergy. A small amount of radiotracer will be added to the egg. This will not make the egg taste different. This will not make you feel any different. Once you have eaten you will then have a 1-minute scan. You can then leave the department for 1 hour. In this time, you can go about your normal activities however, you cannot eat or drink until the study is completed. The imaging staff will advise you of a return time for Part 2.

Part 2. 1 minute scan – 1 hour first scan

Part 3. 1 minute scan – 2 hours after first scan

Part 4. 1 minute Scan – 4 hours after first scan

HOW LONG DOES A GASTRIC EMPTYING STUDY TAKE?

The test takes 4 hours.

PREPARATION REQUIRED FOR A GASTRIC EMPTYING STUDY?

• Please make staff aware if you think you maybe pregnant or if you are breast-feeding prior to making an appointment.                  
• Please inform Imaging Staff if you are allergic to eggs or bread.
• Please fast from midnight on the day of your study.             
• You may be asked to cease certain medications prior to your scan.

WHEN WILL MY DOCTOR RECEIVE MY RESULTS?

Your Referring Doctor will receive your results within 48hrs.