Assessment of gastroparesis in patients with liver cirrhosis

ABSTRACT

This study was done on 30 patients with established liver cirrhosis compared with 10 healthy age and sex matched individuals. To assess gastroparesis in those individuals, half gastric emptying time was measured ultrasonographically. It was significantly longer in patients than the controls. It also correlated to the severity of liver affection as it was significantly longer in Child-Pugh grade C cirrhotics than Child-Pugh grades A and B cirrhotics. Also, there was a significant longer 1/2 gastric emptying time in patients with ascites, esophageal varices or hepatic encephalopathy. Furthermore, cirrhotic patients with shrunken liver had significantly longer 1/2 gastric emptying time than those with average sized or enlarged liver. The 1/2 gastric emptying time was also correlated with dyspeptic symptoms