Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Department – Information for patients

Having a gastric emptying study as an outpatient

A gastric emptying study is a procedure using radiation to measure the speed with which food empties from the stomach and enters the small intestine.

Is it safe for me to have the scan? You will be fed some porridge which has been mixed with a , in order to take the pictures. The small risk from this radiation dose is outweighed by the information that will be gained by having the scan. There is a table showing various radiation risks at the end of this leaflet. Ask if you want any more information. All investigations are vetted to make sure this is the appropriate test for you. If you don’t understand why you need to have this scan please speak to the doctor who referred you.

For female patients If you know that you are pregnant, or there is any chance that you may be pregnant, then please contact the department where you will be having the scan. Do this as soon as possible as the scan can be postponed if it is not urgent. Also contact the department if you are breastfeeding, as we may give you special instructions.

Preparation for your scan You must have nothing to eat or drink from midnight except water only. If you smoke you must not do so for four hours before this test.

Your scan You will be spoon fed a meal of radioactive porridge whilst sitting on a stool in front of a camera. The porridge will not taste any different to normal porridge and you will not feel different after eating it. Pictures will be taken as you are being fed and will continue for up to 3 hours. You will not need to get undressed for this test.

Gastric emptying study as an outpatient, November 2019

Gastric emptying study

After your scan It is very unlikely that you will feel any side effects after the scan, but if you think that you have please let someone from the Medical Physics Department know. You may continue all your normal activities unless you have been advised otherwise. After your scan there will be some radioactivity left in your body but this will not present a significant risk to other people around you. The radioactivity in your body will soon disappear, but if you continue to drink plenty of liquids this will help clear the radioactivity more quickly.

Your results Your gastric emptying scan will be looked at by a specialist doctor, who will issue a report. The report will be sent to the doctor who requested your scan rather than to your GP. This is because the doctor who requested your scan will have all the results from other tests and will be able to tell you how the result of your scan affects your care.

Medical Physics Department, Level 1 North Block Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00pm

If you have any questions about your treatment, please ask the staff looking after you or telephone 0118 322 7355 (fax: 0118 322 7377) or email: [email protected]

For more information about the Trust, visit our website www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk

This information can be made available in other languages and formats upon request

Physics & Clinical Engineering Department, November 2019 Review due: November 2021

Gastric emptying study as an outpatient, November 2019 2

Gastric emptying study

Source of exposure (using RBFT Local DRLs for Nuclear Medicine) Dose

Having a dental x-ray 0.005 mSv

Eating 100g of Brazil nuts 0.01 mSv

Having a chest x-ray 0.014 mSv

GFR test with Tc-99m DTPA 0.05 mSv

Taking a transatlantic flight 0.08 mSv

Lung ventilation 0.2 mSv

Bile salt absorption (SeHCAT), MAG3 Renogram (adult dose only) 0.3 mSv

DMSA kidney scan (adult dose) 0.7 mSv

Oesophageal emptying, gastric emptying, pertechnetate thyroid 0.9 mSv scan, sentinel node (breast)

Lung perfusion 1.0 mSv

UK annual average radon dose 1.3 mSv

CT scan of the head and brain 1.4 mSv

Octreotide (In-111), I-123 whole body, HIDA Gall Bladder scan 2.5 mSv

UK average annual radiation dose 2.7 mSv

Whole body bone scan, two-phase bone scan, GI Bleed 2.9 mSv

Parathyroid scan 4.0 mSv

Meckel’s scan (Adult dose only) 5.2 mSv

CT scan of the chest – CT scan of whole spine 6.6 mSv – 10 mSv

Average annual radon dose to people in Cornwall 6.9 mSv

Annual exposure limit for health service employees working in radiation 20 mSv

Level at which changes in blood cells can be readily observed 100 mSv

Acute radiation effects including nausea and a reduction in white blood cell 1000 mSv count

Gastric emptying study as an outpatient, November 2019 3