GASTRO-INTESTINAL SYSTEM

Requisition Forms

GIT Bleeding Scintigraphy

Procedure description:

(Work in progress)

Key patient preparation:

(Work in progress)

Small Bowel & Colon Transit Study

Procedure description:

(Work in progress)


Key patient preparation:

(Work in progress)

Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy

Procedure description:

The procedure evaluates hepato-cellular function, and the biliary system by tracing the production and flow of bile in the liver, through the biliary system and into the small intestine.

Indications:

  • Biliary pain syndromes in adults and pediatric patients - right upper quadrant pain, acute cholecystitis, chronic calculus cholecystitis, enterogastric (duodenogastric) reflux, sphincter oof Oddi dysfunction, bile leakage post surgery.

Key patient preparations:

  • Adult patients, to fast for a minimum of 2hours, and preferably 6hours before the procedure.

  • Paediatric patient to fast for 2-4hours.

  • Inform the clinic of any medication that the patient is taking such as opioids, and when last the patient ate a meal.

Meckel Diverticulum Study

Procedure description:

(Work in progress)

Key patient preparation:

(Work in progress)

Gastric Emptying Study

Procedure description:

A gastric emptying study is a diagnostic procedure employed to evaluate the rate at which food empties from the stomach into the small intestine. This investigation offers insights into gastric motor function and aids in diagnosing disorders related to delayed or rapid gastric emptying. The procedure typically involves the ingestion of a meal that contains a small amount of radioactive material, such as a trace amount of technetium or another radioisotope, mixed with solid food (e.g., scrambled eggs) and sometimes a liquid component (e.g., water or juice). The radioisotope is harmless and emits low levels of radiation, allowing for safe monitoring using specialized imaging equipment. After consuming the meal, the patient lies down under a scanner or camera that detects the emitted radiation. Images are captured at specific intervals over a period of time, usually several hours, to track the movement of the radioactive material through the digestive system. This enables the visualization and measurement of the rate at which the stomach empties its contents. The collected data is then analyzed to determine the time it takes for the stomach to empty its contents and whether this process occurs at a normal or abnormal rate. A gastric emptying study is noninvasive and generally safe, with minimal discomfort for the patient.

Key patient praparations:
1. The patient should take nothing by mouth for a minimum of 4 h before initiation of the study. It is preferable for the patient to take nothing by mouth starting at midnight and then to be given the radiolabeled meal in the morning.

2. The patient should be advised of the logistical demands of the procedure (e.g., the meal to be used, the time required for eating the meal [<10 min] and for imaging, the number of images required, and what the patient is allowed to do between images).

3. Instructions for diabetic patients:

  • Insulin-dependent diabetic patients should bring their glucose monitors and insulin with them. The serum glucose level at the time of meal ingestion should be recorded and included in the final report.

  • Diabetic patients should have their diabetes under good control, with the blood sugar ideally less than 200 mg/dL. Diabetic patients should monitor their glucose level and adjust their morning dose of insulin as needed for the prescribed meal.

4. Premenopausal women should ideally be studied on days 1–10 of their menstrual cycle, if possible, to avoid the effects of hormonal variation on gastrointestinal motility.

5. Prokinetic agents such as metoclopramide, tegaserod, domperidone, and erythromycin are generally stopped 2 d before the test unless the test is done to assess the efficacy of these drugs.

6. Medications that delay gastric emptying, such as opiates or antispasmodic agents, should generally also be stopped 2 d before testing. Some other medications that may have an effect on the rate of gastric emptying include atropine, nifedipine, progesterone, octreotide, theophylline, benzodiazepine, and phentolamine.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Study

Procedure description:

(Work in progress)

Key patient preparation:

(Work in progress)