Upper GI: Drink barium and get evaluated under fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy equals dynamic x-rays, thus involves radiation. Primarily used for anatomic evaluation, such has hernias, reflux, masses, ulcers, and abnormal rotation. If gastroparesis was severe, it could be detected. The main issue with gastroparesis assessment is that barium is a liquid. Most people with gastroparesis, will have normal emptying of liquids with delayed emptying of solids. If gastroparesis was severe, it could effect liquids and thus be seen on the upper GI. Gatroparesis would also be a subjective call made by the radiologist.

Gastric emptying study: Eat a radio-labelled meal, which usually includes eggs with a small amount of tracer. Our protocol involves getting imaged at 0, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 minutes. Imaging takes about 5 minutes at each time slot. You do not have to be still for the entire portion of the exam. The benefit of this exam is that it assesses solid emptying. There are also standard criteria to determine if it is delayed or not, so this gets an objective result.