Gastric Emptying Tests

Gastric emptying tests measure the time it takes for food to empty out of your stomach. After a meal, it usually takes around four hours for 90 percent of the food to move out of your stomach and into your small intestine. But if your stomach empties too fast or too slow, it could be a sign of a health issue.

When your stomach empties too slowly (longer than normal), it may be a sign of delayed gastric emptying, called gastroparesis. It's often difficult to find the cause of gastroparesis, but diabetes is the most common underlying cause since it can damage some of the nerves in your stomach. Other causes of gastroparesis can include: Hypothyroidism; Injury to your esophagus (the muscular tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to the stomach), stomach, or small intestine during surgery; Certain autoimmune diseases; Nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis; A viral infection of your stomach; If food stays in your stomach for too long, it can harden into a solid mass called a bezoar.

A bezoar may lead to a dangerous blockage that prevents food from passing into your small intestine. Gastroparesis may also cause malnutrition (not getting enough nutrients from your food). When your stomach empties too rapidly (faster than normal), it may be a sign of dumping syndrome.

Dumping syndrome happens when your stomach empties food too quickly into your small intestine. It is usually associated with surgery on your stomach (such as weight loss surgery) or your esophagus. If you have symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, or nausea within 30 minutes after eating, it may be a sign of early dumping syndrome, which is more common than late dumping syndrome.; If you have symptoms such as feeling light-headed, tired, or a fast heartbeat within one to three hours after eating a meal, it may be a sign of late dumping syndrome.; Gastric emptying tests may help you get treatment for gastroparesis and other digestive system issues before they cause serious complications.

Why this test is done

You may need this test if you have symptoms of gastroparesis, which include:

• Abdominal (belly) pain
• Bloating
• Nausea and vomiting
• A feeling of fullness after just a few bites of food
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

How to prepare

You may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before your test. Your provider will also let you know if you need to stop taking certain medicines before your test.

Other names for this test

gastric emptying study, gastric emptying scan, gastric emptying scintigraphy, smart pill, wireless motility study, gastric emptying breath test, upper GI series, barium swallow