Gastric emptying scan

Patient Information Leaflet

What is a nuclear medicine scan?

• A nuclear medicine scan is a very common medical procedure.
• It uses small amounts of radioactive materials to show a specific organ.
• This helps your Doctor diagnose (find the problem) and, in some cases, treat some diseases.
• The scan uses a gamma camera to look for signs of disease.
• It shows the Doctor how well your organs are working. Other types of scans show what your organs look like.

What is a gastric emptying scan?

• A gastric emptying scan uses radioactive isotopes (variants of a chemical element) to check how quickly food leaves the stomach.
• The energy emitted by the radioactive source is detected by a gamma camera, which creates a computerised image.
• Gastric emptying scans are often used to diagnose gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach's muscles don't work properly. This delays food from being sent to the small intestine.
• For more information about this condition, please see https://www.healthline.com/health/gastroparesis
• Your doctor may order the scans if you frequently vomit, feel bloated after eating, or complain of abdominal pain. Other common symptoms of gastroparesis include:
  • weight loss
  • changes in blood sugar levels
  • serious dehydration
  • esophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus)
  • malnutrition from not absorbing nutrients.
  • Many of these symptoms can interfere with your quality of life.
• A gastric emptying scan can help your doctor diagnose gastroparesis or other disorders causing these symptoms.

Do I have to do anything to prepare for this procedure?

• Please call us if you have dietary requirements or you vomit when eating.
• You need to fast from midnight (No food or drink).
• Please stop the following drugs 2 days before your scan: Metoclopramide, Domperidone, Tegaserod, and Erythromycin.
• Please contact us if you have any questions about taking your tablets.

For diabetic patients:

• Please come 30 minutes earlier than your appointment time.
• Please bring your glucose monitor and short acting insulin with you.
• You will have no food for most of the morning other than the mashed potato meal that we will prepare for you as part of this test.
• Please adjust your insulin intake as necessary: the scan requires your sugar levels to be within a certain range, otherwise we may not be able to do it.

What happens on the day of the scan?

On arrival

• A mashed potato meal which contains a small amount of a radioactive tracer will be prepared for you.

• You will be asked to finish eating this meal within ten minutes.

• The scan of your abdomen will start as soon as you finish the meal.

• You will be scanned for about one hour, while lying down flat on our scanning bed.

2 hours after the meal

• Extra images of your abdomen will be taken for about 10 minutes.
• You will not be able to eat in between both scans.
• The images will then be reviewed and further delayed imaging, up to four hours after the meal, may be required.

Is it dangerous?

• The scans are safe and painless.
• Because a small amount of radioactive tracer is used, there is only a very small risk of radiation exposure.
• If you have any worries or questions about the scan, please talk to your Doctor or contact the Nuclear Medicine department.

Are there any precautions?

• Please tell the Nuclear Medicine Technologist or Radiographer if you might be pregnant or are breastfeeding before you come to your appointment.
• You might need to stop breastfeeding for a short time after your scan.
• Please tell us if you feel anxious in small spaces (claustrophobia), or cannot lie down flat.

What happens after the scan?

• Drink lots of water.
• The radioactive tracer leaves your body through your pee (urine). Drinking lots of water will help get rid of it faster.
• Do not have any blood or urine tests for 24 hours after your scan because the radioactive tracer may still be in your body.

How do I get my result?

• A Radiologist reviews (looks at) the scan and sends the report to the Specialist Doctor who asked for it. They will then contact you directly.
• This can take about 2 to 3 weeks.

Is there anything else I should know?

• You will need to lie down flat and stay still during the scan. Moving can make the pictures unclear.
• Please do not bring anyone with you who is pregnant or under 18 years old.
• This is because there are radioactive materials in the department.
• We do not allow anyone under 18 to interpret for patients.
• If you need an interpreter, please tell the Nuclear Medicine department, and they will arrange one for you.

Contact our service

Email: whh-tr.nuclearmedwhitthealth@nhs.net Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm: 020 7288 5517
Friday: Please call our mobile on 07747 037 143