• Procedure guideline for gastric emptying and motility, 1.0. J Nucl Med 1999 Jul;40(7):1236-9. [8 references]

Gastric emptying and motility disorders

Assessment of Therapeutic Effectiveness
Diagnosis
Evaluation

Nuclear Medicine
Radiology

Allied Health Personnel
Physicians

To assist nuclear medicine practitioners in recommending, performing, interpreting, and reporting the results of gastric emptying/motility studies

Adults and children with suspected or documented gastric motility disturbances

Radionuclide studies of gastric emptying and motility

Not stated

Hand-searches of Published Literature (Primary Sources)
Hand-searches of Published Literature (Secondary Sources)
Searches of Electronic Databases

Literature searches were performed. In addition, references known to experts and references from the nuclear medicine community were considered.

Not stated

Not stated

Not applicable

Review

Not applicable

Expert Consensus

Drafts of the guideline were submitted to members of the Guideline Development subcommittee (methodologists) and the Task Force (subject experts). These reviewers indicated on a line-by-line basis any suggestions or recommendations for the revision of the guideline. The percentage of agreement for all reviewers was calculated for each revision and compiled by the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) central office. It is expected that the percentage of agreement will increase with each revision.

Not applicable

A formal cost analysis was not performed and published cost analyses were not reviewed.

Internal Peer Review

When the Task Force and Guideline Development Subcommittee completed their edits, draft procedure guidelines were distributed to the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) Sample Review Group for comment. (The SNM Sample Review Group is a cross-section of approximately 100 nuclear medicine practitioners representing every field of specialization).

The guideline was approved by the SNM Commission on Health Care Policy, the Board of Directors, and the House of Delegates.

Background Information and Definitions

Radionuclide studies of gastric emptying and motility are the most physiologic studies available for studying gastric motor function. The study is noninvasive, uses a physiologic meal (solids with/without liquids), and is quantitative. Serial testing can determine the effectiveness of therapy.

Common Indications

• Post-prandial:
  1. Nausea, vomiting
  2. Upper abdominal discomfort, bloating
  3. Chronic aspiration
• Suspected gastroparesis
• Poor diabetic control
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Following response to therapy for previously document motility disturbances

Procedure

The detailed procedure recommendations in the guideline address the following areas: facility/personnel, patient preparation; information pertinent to performing the procedure (i.e., important data that the physician should have about the patient at the time the exam is performed and interpreted); precautions; information regarding the radiopharmaceutical (i.e., ranges of administered activity, organ receiving the largest radiation dose, effective dose), image acquisition; interventions; processing; interpretation/reporting; quality control, and sources of error.

None provided

Not stated

The intent of the procedure guideline is to describe radionuclide studies of gastric emptying and motility, in order to maximize the diagnostic information obtained in the study while minimizing the resources that are expended.

Not stated

The Society of Nuclear Medicine has written and approved guidelines to promote the cost-effective use of high quality nuclear medicine procedures. These generic recommendations cannot be applied to all patients in all practice settings. The guidelines should not be deemed inclusive of all proper procedures or exclusive of other procedures reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. The spectrum of patients seen in a specialized practice setting may be quite different than the spectrum of patients seen in a more general practice setting. The appropriateness of a procedure will depend in part on the prevalence of disease in the patient population. In addition, the resources available to care for patients may vary greatly from one medical facility to another. For these reasons, guidelines cannot be rigidly applied.

Advances in medicine occur at a rapid rate. The date of a guideline should always be considered in determining its current applicability.

An implementation strategy was not provided.

Living with Illness

Effectiveness
Patient-centeredness
Safety

• Procedure guideline for gastric emptying and motility, 1.0. J Nucl Med 1999 Jul;40(7):1236-9. [8 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

1999 Jul

Society of Nuclear Medicine, Inc - Medical Specialty Society

Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM)

Task Force

The Task Force consists of members from both academic and nonacademic practice settings.

Names of Task Force Members: Kevin Donohoe, MD, Chair; Alan Maurer, MD; Harvey Ziessman, MD; Jean-Luc Urbain, MD; Henry Royal, MD.

Not stated

This is the current release of the guideline.

An update is not in progress at this time.

The guideline developer states that the guideline is subject to a bi-annual update/revision cycle.

This summary was completed by ECRI on July 20, 1999. It was verified by the guideline developer as of August 5, 1999.

This NGC summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer's copyright restrictions. For further information, please contact Marie Davis at the Society of Nuclear Medicine, telephone (703) 708-9000, ext. 250.