Does your child vomit frequently? Or complain of stomach upset? Does he sometimes feel full even after eating a small amount? Or is he not gaining weight for his age? If these are the symptoms, your doctor may want to order a Gastric Emptying Study (GES) . The name may sound like a big deal, but it's actually a simple test that measures how quickly food from your child's stomach moves into the intestines. Let's learn more about this, shall we?
What is this Gastric Emptying Study?
Simply put, this measures how long it takes for your child's food to travel from the stomach to the small intestine. Our doctors use a special scanner, called a gamma camera, for this. After the child has finished eating, the camera takes pictures of the stomach.
This test is also called by other names, for example:
- Gastric emptying test
- Gastric emptying scan
- Stomach emptying test
- Gastric nuclear emptying study
- Gastric emptying scintigraphy
Either way, the idea is the same - to watch how quickly the stomach empties.
What diseases can be detected by this test?
This Gastric Emptying Study is the most practical way to see exactly how well a child's stomach is working . Doctors often use it to diagnose a condition called gastroparesis . Gastroparesis is, simply put, when your child's stomach takes longer than normal to empty. Think about it, normally the food we eat should move from the stomach to the small intestine within an hour and a half to two hours. But that doesn't happen in a child with gastroparesis.
This test can also detect something else, which is dumping syndrome . In this case, the opposite happens. That is, food from the stomach moves too quickly into the small intestine. It can also detect gastroesophageal reflux , which is when stomach contents flow back up into the esophagus.
A doctor may order this test if your child has any of these symptoms:
- If you vomit frequently.
- If you often talk about a stomach ache .
- If you don't gain weight as you age.
- If you feel full quickly even after eating a small amount of food (we call this ``early satiety``).
This test also helps identify and begin treatment for conditions like gastroparesis before further complications occur.
How do you prepare your baby for this test?
There is a little preparation for this. It is very important.
- Do not give your child any food or drink after midnight the night before the test. Your child's stomach should be empty when the test is performed.
- If your child is taking any medications , tell the doctor in advance. They may ask you to stop taking them for a few days before the test.
- If possible, explain the test to your child in a way that they can understand. This will help them feel less scared. Say something simple like, "We're going to take some pictures of your stomach."
- Don't forget to bring things like books and toys to keep your child occupied while the scans are being taken.
What happens during the test? How does the baby feel?
This is the problem that many parents have. Okay, let's see what happens.
1. First, a radiologist or radiology technician will take your child to the area where the images will be taken. There, the child will be given a hospital gown to wear.
2. Then, the doctor or technician will give the child a small meal to eat . This is usually something like scrambled egg whites, two slices of bread, and strawberry jam. They will also give the child about 4 ounces of water to drink.
3. This egg dish contains a very small amount of a harmless radioactive substance ``tracer`` . But don't worry, this won't change the taste or color of the eggs. The child won't even notice it.
4. The child is given about 10 minutes to eat this food. You should encourage the child to finish eating the food within this time. Most importantly, if the child vomits this radioactive food, the test will not be able to be done that day . It will have to be rescheduled for another day.
5. After the meal, the technician will take the child to the nuclear medicine imaging room .
6. Then, several pictures of the child's abdomen are taken. These first few pictures take about a minute. The radiologist watches on a monitor as the radioactive substance (tracer) moves through the child's abdomen.
7. Then, in an hour, two hours, and four hours, I take a few more pictures. Each time, I take about a minute to take the pictures.
8. During the scan, the child will be asked to stay still , as this is a timed test. The child will not be allowed to eat or drink anything else until the last few images are taken.
Remember, the child will not feel any pain during this test.
How long does this test take?
A solid meal gastric emptying study like this can usually take about four to five hours . Yes, it's a time-consuming process.
What to expect after the test?
If the child is not hospitalized, meaning the test was done on the same day as an outpatient, and no other tests were scheduled for that day, you and your child can go home as soon as the test is over . There are no restrictions on what the child can eat, drink, or do after the test.
Are there any risks with this test?
This is a problem for many people.
- If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, you should not have this test . The radiation emitted from this test may be harmful to the fetus in the womb.
- If you are not pregnant, there is no major risk in having this test. The amount of radiation emitted during the test is very low. Doctors say it is not harmful to most people.
When will I know the test results?
The radiologist will look at the images, write a report, and give the results to your child's doctor within a few days. The doctor will then talk to you about it.
What are the normal results like?
After we eat a meal, it usually takes one and a half to two hours for the food to move from the stomach to the small intestine. A normal result from a gastric emptying study shows that your child's stomach has emptied within this time.
What to do next if the results are abnormal?
If this happens, your child's doctor will talk to you and discuss what to do next. They may need to do more tests or start treatment. All of this is up to the doctor to decide.
Does this scan show cancer?
A gastric emptying scan specifically looks at how long it takes for food to move from the stomach to the small intestine. Although delayed emptying of the stomach (gastroparesis) can sometimes be a sign of cancer , doctors use other specialized imaging tests to find out for sure if cancer is present. The important thing is that it is very rare for a child to have delayed emptying of the stomach due to cancer . So don't worry too much about it.
What can parents do to keep their baby from being afraid of this test?
This is a long test, so your child may feel bored and a little nervous. But you can help keep them calm.
- The night before the test, practice sitting still with your child. Make it a game. Then, when you ask him to sit still during the test, it won't seem like a big deal to him.
- Usually, one parent or guardian is allowed to go near the scanner with the child.
- A "comfort" item that the child loves and brings from home (e.g., a small toy, a blanket) can help the child feel comfortable in the hospital.
- Remember, just being with your child is a great source of strength and comfort . Your calmness also affects the child.
- Tell the child that this test will not hurt in any way .
Although a gastric emptying study is not painful, it can be a day-long process for a child. If your child has to undergo this test, as mentioned earlier, talk to him about it and prepare him. Since he will not be able to eat anything other than eggs and milk until the final scan, bring toys and books to keep him occupied. Also, think of something that will help you stay calm. The doctor will let you know the results as soon as possible.
Remember what we talked about in one breath (Take-Home Message)
Okay, so let's summarize what we've talked about:
- A Gastric Emptying Study (GES) is an important test that measures how quickly your child's stomach empties.
- This can help identify conditions such as `(gastroparesis)` (delayed emptying of the stomach) and `(dumping syndrome)` (premature emptying of the stomach).
- It is very important to properly prepare the child before the test (such as not feeding them).
- The test is not painful , but it will take several hours, so help your child not to get bored.
- When the results come in, the doctor will tell you what to do next .
- This is a generally safe test for a child (except for pregnant women).
So, if your doctor suggests a test like this, don't be unnecessarily afraid of it. I hope this article will give you a better understanding of it. Everything is for the best interest of the child.
` Gastric Emptying Study, GES, gastric emptying, gastroparesis, gastroparesis, children's health, stomach problems, vomiting, children's diseases, digestive system
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