Gastric emptying

Knowledge gained during the last 10 years has forced substantial refinement of the classical model of gastric emptying physiology, which attributed control of liquid emptying to fundic tone and solid emptying to antral peristalsis. Current concepts reviewed in this Report regard emptying as the outcome of interaction between gastric propulsive forces on the one hand and gastric outlet resistance on the other, both of which are subject to various controlling influences. The majority of experimental observations on both normal and abnormal gastric emptying may be explained on this basis, though it carries the implication that the clinical entity of gastroparesis may no longer be regarded simply as a manifestation of gastric hypomotility. Methods of gastric emptying measurement in man, together with the indications for and relevance of these measurements are reviewed in the context of current gastroenterological practice which in many countries now includes the availability of potent motor stimulating drugs. The use of established drugs and the main areas of current pharmacological research interest are discussed.