It’s tough, isn’t it? When your little one is complaining of a sore tummy, maybe not eating like they usually do, or food just doesn’t seem to stay down. You worry. And as your doctor, I get that. When we see these kinds of tummy troubles, one of the things we might need to look at is how well their stomach is moving food along. That’s where a test called a Gastric Emptying Study (GES) can be really helpful.
What Exactly is a Gastric Emptying Study?
So, what is this test? Think of it as a way for us to watch how quickly your child’s stomach empties food into their small intestine. We use a special, safe scanner – it’s called a gamma camera – to take pictures of their tummy after they’ve had a little something to eat. You might also hear it called a gastric emptying test, a stomach emptying test, or even gastric emptying scintigraphy (that’s just the fancy medical term!).
This study is often our go-to for figuring out if your child has a condition called gastroparesis. This simply means their stomach is taking a bit longer than usual to empty. Normally, food makes its way from the stomach to the small intestine in about an hour and a half to two hours.
But it’s not just for slow emptying. The test can also tell us if the stomach is emptying too quickly, a condition known as dumping syndrome. Sometimes, it can even help us spot gastroesophageal reflux, which is when stomach contents come back up.
We might suggest a Gastric Emptying Study if your child is:
- Vomiting a lot
- Having ongoing abdominal pain
- Not gaining weight as they should
- Feeling full really quickly after starting to eat (we call this early satiety)
Getting this information can help us figure out the best way to help your little one feel better and avoid any more serious issues down the road.
Getting Ready for the Test
Okay, let’s talk about how to prepare. It’s pretty straightforward.
Your child’s tummy needs to be empty for the test to be accurate. So, this means no food or drinks after midnight the night before. I know, that can be a bit tricky with kids, but it’s important. We’ll also chat about any medications they’re taking, as some might need to be paused.
It’s a good idea to explain what’s going to happen in simple terms they can understand. And, plan ahead! The whole thing can take a few hours, so bringing books, quiet toys, or a tablet can be a lifesaver to keep them occupied between the scans.
What Happens During the Gastric Emptying Study?
Here’s a step-by-step of what you and your child can expect:
- A friendly radiologist (a doctor who specializes in medical imaging) or a radiology technician will take you to the imaging area. Your child will likely change into a hospital gown.
- Next up, a small meal. It’s usually something simple like scrambled egg whites, a bit of toast with jelly, and a small drink of water. The eggs will have a tiny, tiny amount of a harmless radioactive material mixed in – we call this a tracer. Don’t worry, it doesn’t change the taste or look of the food, and it’s perfectly safe.
- Your child will have about 10 minutes to eat the meal. Encourage them to eat it all if they can. If they happen to throw up the meal before the study is over, we’d unfortunately have to reschedule.
- Once they’re done eating, the technician will help them get comfortable in the imaging room. They’ll take some quick pictures of their tummy – these first scans only take about a minute. The radiologist will be watching on a monitor as the tracer moves through their stomach. It’s like watching a little movie of their digestion!
- Then, there will be more pictures taken at set times – usually after one hour, two hours, and four hours. Each set of pictures is quick, just about a minute. In between, you’ll usually need to stay nearby since it’s a timed test. And, no more eating or drinking until all the pictures are done.
The whole Gastric Emptying Study usually takes about four to five hours from start to finish.
After the Test
Once the last scan is done, if there are no other appointments, you’re free to go home! Your child can eat and drink normally and get back to their usual activities. Easy peasy.
Are There Any Risks?
This is a question I get a lot, and it’s a very important one. If you (the parent) are pregnant or think you might be, you shouldn’t accompany your child into the scanning room during the actual imaging, just to be extra safe with the radiation.
For your child, the amount of radiation from the tracer is very, very low – we consider it safe for most children. It’s less than they’d get from many other types of scans. We always weigh the benefits of getting the information we need against any potential risks.
Understanding the Results
The radiologist will look at all the images and send a report to me (or your child’s main doctor) within a few days.
What Do Normal Results Look Like?
As I mentioned, food usually moves out of the stomach in about 1.5 to 2 hours. So, normal results will show that your child’s stomach emptied within this timeframe.
And If the Results Aren’t Normal?
If the results show something different – either the stomach is emptying too slowly (gastroparesis) or too quickly – I’ll give you a call. We’ll sit down and talk about what it means and what our next steps will be to help your child.
Can This Scan Find Cancer?
This is a common worry for parents. It’s important to know that a Gastric Emptying Study is specifically designed to see how food moves through the stomach. While very, very rarely, delayed emptying could be linked to other serious things, this test itself isn’t for diagnosing cancer. And honestly, in children, cancer is an exceedingly uncommon reason for a slow-emptying stomach. If we had concerns about something like that, we’d be looking at very different types of tests.
Helping Your Child Feel at Ease
It’s totally normal for kids (and parents!) to feel a bit anxious about medical tests. Here are a few things that might help:
- Practice at home: You can practice “lying still like a statue” for a minute or two the night before. This can make it feel less strange when they’re asked to do it during the scan.
- You can be there: Usually, one parent or caregiver can stay with the child during the scans. Your presence is a huge comfort.
- Comfort item: A favorite small toy, blanket, or book from home can make a big difference.
- Reassurance: Remind them that the test itself doesn’t hurt at all.
Take-Home Message: Key Things to Remember About a Gastric Emptying Study
Let’s quickly recap the main points:
- A Gastric Emptying Study helps us see how quickly your child’s stomach empties food.
- It’s often used to check for gastroparesis (slow emptying) or dumping syndrome (fast emptying).
- Your child will need an empty stomach and will eat a small meal with a safe, tiny tracer.
- The test involves taking pictures at intervals over about 4-5 hours.
- It’s a very low-risk test for children.
- We’ll discuss the results and any next steps together.
You’re doin’ great by looking into this and wanting the best for your child. We’re here to walk through it with you.
You’re not alone in this. We’ll figure things out together.
