Evaluation of a magnetic method for the measurement of small intestinal transit time.
A new method for the measurement of small intestinal transit time is described. An externally applied magnetic transducer senses the presence of an ingested ferromagnetic material--50 gm. of magnesium ferrite dispersed in a test meal--upon its arrival at the cecal area. The mouth-to-cecum transit time is thus determined. The method is noninvasive and is not associated with any radiation. The method was compared to the commonly used x-ray method and good correlation was found in 24 of 28 studies. The mean transit time in a group of 20 normal subjects was 157.5 +/- 63.9 min.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002432:Cecum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000502:physiology*; D008280:Magnetics; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D014159:Transducers