[Sonographic measurement of gastric emptying time]

Sonography, as a non-invasive procedure, may be used also for studying the gastric emptying time. After 250 ml of a liquid test meal the gastric emptying time was determined in 20 subjects. In each subject the applied test meal could be traced in the prepyloric antrum. When examined at 8.00 a.m. the fluid had left the stomach after an average time of 8.3 min. During the day the emptying time increased to 10.8 min. A second examination on another day after application of 30 mg metoclopramide revealed significantly lower gastric emptying time. Ultrasonography may therefore be used as a sensitive non-invasive method for studying the gastric emptying rate in the fasting state and under pharmacological stimulation.