Author Question: According to the American College of Gastroenterology, scintigraphy is the gold standard for ... (Read 64 times)

MirandaLo · **on:** Aug 21, 2018

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, scintigraphy is the gold standard for diagnosis of gastroparesis. This test was performed on Mrs. Williams. Explain this test and discuss how her results confirm her diagnosis.

Are there other diagnostic tests that could be used?

Question 2

What are factors that impact the caloric needs of CP patients? Which ones are relevant to the current patient?

What will be an ideal response?

AISCAMPING · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 21, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The gold standard for diagnosis is the scintigraphic gastric emptying test. It involved the ingestion of a standardized meal of 4 oz. of liquid egg white, two slices of white bread, strawberry jam, water, and technetium-99m sulfur colloid (0.5-1 mCi).
Since Mrs. Williams' test results show higher gastric retention of her meal at 1 hour (95) and 2 hours (85) compared to the normal ranges (30-90 and < 60, respectively), gastroparesis can be diagnosed.
Other diagnostic tests include an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, CT and MRI enterographies, upper gastrointestinal series (X-rays of barium-containing liquid), and breath tests.

Answer to Question 2

Factors specific to CP patients that may impact caloric requirements include spasticity, ambulation, and use of muscle relaxant medication.
Olivia has spasticity in all 4 of her limbs, though is receiving baclofen to help reduce the extent of the spasticity. Except for traveling longer distances, she is ambulatory. Due to increased effort required to walk and complete activities of daily living, energy needs are generally higher in active CP patients compared to neurotypical children.