title: Gastric Emptying Half-time Following Silastic Ring Vertical Gastroplasty: A Scintigraphic Study (Preliminary Results).
abstract: BACKGROUND: The mechanism for weight loss following gastroplasty surgery is unknown. A few studies have checked gastric emptying patterns following gastroplasty, but none have analyzed their pattern over time. METHODS: Gastric emptying half-time of Tc-99 phytate-labeled semi-solid meal was studied in 23 obese non-diabetic and one diabetic patient (BMI 34.6-55.7). Gastric emptying was measured by gamma scintigraphy before Silastic Ring Vertical Gastroplasty (SRVG) and 1, 3 and 6 months following surgery. RESULTS: Gastric emptying half-times were maximal in all areas of the stomach 1 month after operation, declined to base-line 3 months following the procedure, and showed statistically significant delay in the upper area of the stomach 6 months after the operation. No correlation was found between the delay in food passage following surgery and loss of weight. CONCLUSIONS: Prolongation of gastric emptying half-time following surgery may be a result of two separate mechanisms: asymptomatic or early inflammatory processes in the ring area and pouch distention as a result of partial denervation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery 'B' Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel.
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bended
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Livshitz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mindlin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halevy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horne