Avaliaçäo qualitativa e quantitativa do esvaziamento gástrico através do método videofluoroscópico / Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the gastric emptying by the videofluoroscopic method

RESUMO

We studied the gastric emptying of 21 healthy volunteers using a standard contrasted diet composed of a lipid, carbohydrate, protein and barium sulfate solution homogenate. We did six one-minute videofluoroscopic recordings in a 12-minute interval for the first hour, and in a 30 minute interval until the complete emptying. We selected eight exams for the emptying quantification. We could observe and estimate subjectively the functional behavior and the gastric emptying. Digital representative images of each emptying time point we were able to quantify those observations and describe them as a mathematical function. We developed a macro procedure using the Media Cybernetics ImagePro-Plus software for this quantification. We conclude that 1-The videofluoroscopic method provides better resolution than the other methods in the analysis of the gastric motility and emptying. 2--It is possible to computationally quantify the morphological differences observed with the sequential registration radiological methods, specially the videofluoroscopic method that generates 30 frames per second. 3--Our results generate a gastric emptying index, based on the area of a gastric projection in radiological images obtained in a standing position over a one-hour period (T1/2). 4--The quantitative analysis should not exclude the qualitative analysis: