Gastric emptying and gastroesophageal reflux: Effects of surgery and correlation with esophageal motor function

Abstract

A new method of measuring gastric emptying for solids was developed and validated. With this new method, gastric emptying of solids was evaluated in 40 patients with gastroesophageal reflux. Gastric emptying of solids was delayed in 42 percent of patients independent of the severity of the reflux symptoms. Liquids emptied in a normal fashion, supporting the observations of others that liquid emptying is not a valid measure of gastric emptying. A high incidence of esophageal motor abnormalities was present in these patients when tested with radionuclide transit studies using a liquid bolus. The coexistence of esophageal and gastric emptying abnormalities was present in 45 percent of patients who had delayed gastric emptying of solids. Three months after surgical correction of reflux as measured by pH study, abnormalities in both the esophagus and stomach remained unchanged. Since the symptoms were corrected, delayed gastric emptying is not adequate indication for a gastric emptying procedure at the time of antireflux surgery.