Effect of different quantities of a sugared clear fluid on gastric emptying and residual volume in children: a crossover study using magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND Gastric emptying in the first 2 h after 7 ml kg(-1) of sugared clear fluid has recently been investigated in healthy children using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study aims to compare gastric volume and emptying half-life during 1 h after 3 or 7 ml kg(-1) sugared clear fluid intake. METHODS Fourteen healthy volunteer children aged 11.1 (8.2-12.5) yr were investigated prospectively after administration of 3 and 7 ml kg(-1) diluted raspberry syrup in a randomized order, after overnight fasting (baseline). Gastric content volume (GCV(w)) was assessed with a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner in a blinded fashion. Data are presented as median (range) and compared using the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS Baseline GCV(w) was 0.39 (0.04-1.00) and 0.34 (0.07-0.75) before intake of 3 and 7 ml kg(-1) syrup, respectively (P=0.93). GCV(w) was 0.45 (0.04-1.55)/1.33 (0.30-2.60) ml kg(-1) 60 min after ingestion of 3/7 ml kg(-1) syrup (P=0.002). Thus GCV(w) had declined to baseline after 3 ml kg(-1) (P=0.39) but not after 7 ml kg(-1) (P=0.001) within 60 min. T(1/2) was 20 (10-62)/27 (13-43) min (P=0.73) after 3/7 ml kg(-1). CONCLUSION In healthy volunteer children, residual GCV(w) 1 h after intake of 3 ml kg(-1) syrup is significantly smaller than that after 7 ml kg(-1) and within the range of baseline.