Intragastric maldistribution of a liquid meal in patients with reflux oesophagitis assessed by three dimensional ultrasonography

Abstract

Background and aims: Our aim was to study intragastric volume and distribution of a liquid meal in patients with reflux oesophagitis using three dimensional ultrasonography. Methods: Twenty patients and 20 healthy controls underwent ultrasonographic measurements of the stomach using a position sensor based on magnetic scanhead tracking for acquisition of three dimensional images. In vivo accuracy of the method was evaluated by scanning a soup filled barostat bag positioned in the proximal stomach of six healthy subjects. Results: In the volume range 100-700 ml, our three dimensional system showed excellent correlation (r=0.99) between estimated and true volumes (limits of agreement -3.4 to 11.0 ml) and a low inter-observer variation (limits of agreement -10.9 to 6.7 ml). After ingestion of a 500 ml meat soup meal, patients with reflux oesophagitis revealed a larger volume of the total and proximal stomach at two and 10 minutes (p=0.05; p=0.01, respectively), and an increased proximal/distal intragastric volume ratio at 10 minutes (p=0.04). Patients also experienced more epigastric fullness than controls (p=0.0006). Conclusions: The present three dimensional ultrasound system showed excellent agreement with true volumes and low interobserver variation. Soon after a liquid meal, patients with reflux oesophagitis have abnormal pooling of the ingested liquid in the proximal stomach.