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Gastric emptying of solids in cirrhotic and peritoneal dialysis patients: influence of peritoneal volume load

Introduction A delay in gastric emptying rate has been reported in peritoneal dialysis patients, often normalizing after evacuation of the dialysate. To evaluate the effect of the intraperitoneal volume, we compared this finding with a cirrhotic model in which gastric emptying was studied before and after a large-volume paracentesis. Methods and design We used the 13C-octanoic acid breath test to measure gastric half-emptying time (T1/2) for solids in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, non-diabetic peritoneal dialysis patients, and a control population (asymptomatic volunteers). Cirrhotic patients underwent the test on two consecutive mornings before and after an evacuating paracentesis. Peritoneal dialysis patients were studied twice on consecutive days: once with the dialysate present intra-abdominally (`full'), and once with an emptied abdomen (`empty'). Biochemical analysis was carried out on blood samples before the first test. All cirrhotics underwent a 13C-aminopyrine breath test to assess residual liver function. Results Gastric emptying in cirrhotics showed no difference before or after paracentesis (median T1/2 108.0 min v. 117.9 min), but it was delayed significantly versus normal in both tests. There was no correlation with biochemical parameters, Child–Pugh score, or 13C-aminopyrine breath test results. Gastric half-emptying times of ‘full’ peritoneal dialysis patients (median T1/2 103.1 min) were significantly higher than those of ‘empty’ peritoneal dialysis patients (median T1/2 68.9 min) and asymptomatic volunteers (median T1/2 60.1 min). ‘Empty’ peritoneal dialysis patients showed no gastroparesis. Conclusion In alcoholic cirrhotic patients with ascites, gastric emptying of solids is delayed, independently of the volume of ascites. In peritoneal dialysis patients, gastric emptying was delayed when ‘full’ and normalized after drainage of the dialysate.