OVERVIEW

Gastric emptying time is the rate at which the stomach empties after food consumption. The rate at which the stomach empties is based on many factors. Meal-related factors include meal volume, meal temperature, fat content, acid content, carbohydrate content, protein content, and dietary fiber. Generally, liquids empty faster than solids. Other factors include certain medications, chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, trauma, stress, and a history of stomach surgery.

The most common indications to measure gastric emptying time include:

• Unexplained nausea and/or vomiting
• Unexplained upper abdominal pain, discomfort, or bloating
• Acid reflux symptoms that fail to respond to medication management
• Feeling full too quickly after beginning to eat

How do you measure gastric emptying time?

The most common way of measuring gastric emptying time is through a gastric emptying scan (also known as gastric scintigraphy). With this procedure, you eat food with a small amount of radioactive material in it. A camera will then take pictures of your stomach every hour for up to four hours to see how much food remains in your stomach.