GASTRIC-EMPTYING OF PANCREATIN GRANULES AND DIETARY LIPIDS IN PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY

Aim: To investigate the emptying of enzyme granules and dietary lipids in patients with pancreatic insufficiency secondary to chronic pancre atitis. Patients and methods: Seven patients with chronic pancreatitis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency ingested a test meal including colloidal 99m-technetium-radiolabelled liver pate, and swallowed two p ancreatin capsules, in which half of the granules had been replaced wi th 111-indium-radiolabelled plastic particles of comparable physical d imensions. The passage of the two isotopes was followed simultaneously by gamma camera imaging for direct visual judgement and calculation o f mean gastric emptying time. Results: Pancreatin granules and dietary lipids were observed to empty simultaneously. In the duodenum the par ticles and the test meal were well mixed. Mean gastric emptying time o f radiolabelled liver pate and radiolabelled plastic particles could b e calculated in six patients. The median of these values were 47 and 4 3 min, respectively (P = 0.69). Conclusion: Pancreatin granules sized 1.0-1.5 mm seem to empty together with dietary lipids.