INTRAINDIVIDUAL COMPARISON OF GASTRIC PER ISTALSIS AFTER INGESTION OFA SEMILIQUID AND SOLID TEST MEAL

Aim: Patients with various disorders of gastric function were studied with radiolabeled test meals of different consistency to elaborate the effect oi ingested media on gastric peristalsis and emptying. Methods : In 12 patients parameters of gastric function were intraindividually compared after ingestion of a semiliquid and a solid test meal. In ad dition to the standard evaluation derived from time activity curves co ndensed images were established from two fixed rime intervals (early a nd late period). These images were used to evaluate the amplitude and frequency of gastric contractions using Fourier analysis. Results: As expected gastric emptying was influenced by the consistency oi the tes t meal. Mean emptying rates for the solid meal were significant lower than those for the semiliquid one (p < 0,01). The amplitude and freque ncy of gastric contractions, however, did not depend on the consistenc y of the test meal. Within the course of the examination contraction a mplitudes significantly increased (p < 0,05) from the early to the lat e period using both, solid as well as semiliquid test meals. The frequ ency of gastric contractions remained unchanged. Conclusion: As shown by an intraindividual data comparison amplitude and frequency of gastr ic contractions seem to be independent of the consistency of ingested test meals whereas gastric emptying is significantly influenced by the administered media. Semiliquid meals offer advantages with respect to the shorter examination time and simpler preparation and therefore ma y be preferred for routine use. Since amplitudes seem to vary within t he observation period standardized acquisition protocols are recommend ed for the evaluation of this parameter.