Clinical Correlation between Scintigraphic Measurement of Gastric Emptying and Electrogastrography in Dysmotility Like Functional Dyspepsia

Kim, Sang Wook; Kim, Tae Hyeon; Choi, Suck Chei; Nah, Yong Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of present study was to correlate abnormalities in electrogastrography (EGG) and gastric emptying (GE) in patients with dysmotility like functional dyspepsia (DLFD).
METHODS
Thirty-eight patients with DLFD (10 male, 28 female, mean age 37.0 years) and twenty healthy subjects (15 male, 5 female, mean age 23.5 years) underwent EGG and GE.
RESULTS
The half time of GE of solids in the patients with DLFD was significantly longer than that in healthy subjects (p<0.05). Of the 38 patients with DLFD, the EGG was abnormal in 14 patients (37%) compared with 6 of 20 normal subjects (30%), and 18 patients showed delayed GE. Among 18 patients with delayed GE, 8 patients (44%) showed abnormal EGG and 10 patients (56%) showed normal EGG. Among 14 patients with abnormal EGG, 8 patients (57%) showed delayed GE and 6 patients (43%) showed normal GE. The preprandial tachygastria was more commonly observed in the patients with DLFD than in healthy subjects (p<0.05). The postprandial tachygastria in DLFD patients with delayed GE was significantly higher than in DLFD patients with normal GE (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The DLFD patients with delayed GE showed higher ratio of gastric dysrhythmia, which might be relate to delayed gastric emptying time. The EGG and GE scintigraphy are complementary for assessment of functional dyspepsia.