Gastric emptying of pancreatin granules and dietary lipids in pancreatic insufficiency.

AIM

To investigate the emptying of enzyme granules and dietary lipids in patients with pancreatic insufficiency secondary to chronic pancreatitis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seven patients with chronic pancreatitis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency ingested a test meal including colloidal 99m-technetium-radiolabelled liver paté, and swallowed two pancreatin capsules, in which half of the granules had been replaced with 111-indium-radiolabelled plastic particles of comparable physical dimensions. The passage of the two isotopes was followed simultaneously by gamma camera imaging for direct visual judgement and calculation of mean gastric emptying time.

RESULTS

Pancreatin granules and dietary lipids were observed to empty simultaneously. In the duodenum the particles and the test meal were well mixed. Mean gastric emptying time of radiolabelled liver paté and radiolabelled plastic particles could be calculated in six patients. The median of these values were 47 and 43 min, respectively (P = 0.69).

CONCLUSION

Pancreatin granules sized 1.0-1.5 mm seem to empty together with dietary lipids.