Solid and liquid gastric emptying in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux

Abstract

A dual isotope radionuclide technique has been used to assess solid and liquid gastric emptying simultaneously in 72 patients with symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux and 22 normal controls. Objective evidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux was obtained from standard acid reflux testing and/or endoscopy in all patients. Solid emptying was delayed in 32 patients (44 per cent), liquid emptying was delayed in 27 patients (37 per cent) and 16 of those two groups had delayed solid and liquid emptying. Thus 29 patients (40 per cent) had normal solid and liquid emptying. The solid lag period was significantly delayed in the patient group (P<0.01). There was a significant correlation (P<0.01) between the solid and liquid gastric emptying values obtained in patients. No significant correlation was found between gastric emptying and the resting lower oesophageal sphincter pressure or the presence of symptoms of regurgitation and epigastric fullness. In the patients with delayed solid emptying there was a higher incidence of oesophagitis than in patients with normal emptying (P<0.05).