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Aim of the study Preoperative gastric emptying (GE) rate in patients with gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) was evaluated as a predictor of outcome after antireflux surgery. Methods and patients GE was assessed using radionuclide scintigraphy and a standardized meal with cow's milk. GE half time (T1/2), patient demographics and GERD symptoms including vomiting (>4days/week), retching (>4days/week), prolonged feeding time (>3h/day), and discomfort after meals were recorded pre- and postoperatively. A standardized follow-up included a 24-h pH-monitoring and an upper gastrointestinal contrast study. Of 74 patients undergoing Nissen fundoplication between 2003 and 2009, 35 underwent a preoperative GE study. The remaining 39 patients were not examined owing to volume intolerance, cow's milk intolerance or allergy, inability to lie still, or parents refusing participation. Main results Median age at fundoplication was 4.9 [range 1.1–15.4] years, and follow-up time was median 4.3 [1.9–8.9] years. GERD recurred in 7 (20%) patients. Preoperative T1/2 in the seven patients with recurrent GERD was median 45 [21–87] min compared to 44 [16–121] min in the 28 patients without recurrent GERD (p=0.92). There was no significant difference between the one third of patients with the slowest GE [T1/2 54–121min] and the remaining patients [T1/2 16–49min] regarding GERD recurrence or postoperative vomiting, retching, prolonged feeding time, or discomfort after meals. Conclusion Preoperative GE rate did not predict outcome after antireflux surgery, as slow GE was not associated with recurrent GERD or postoperative troublesome symptoms such as vomiting, retching, or meal discomfort.

Purpose The aim of this report is to examine whether children with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) have delayed gastric emptying compared to healthy children. Methods All patients had GER verified by 24-hour pH monitoring. Gastric emptying of cow’s milk was examined by radionuclide scintigraphy in 51 patients with GER and in 24 controls. Gastric emptying rate was expressed as exponential half time (T1/2). Results Median age was 4.4 years [range 0.1–15.4] in patients and 6.1 years [range 2.5–10.0] in controls (p = .10). A wide range of gastric emptying rates was observed both in GER patients [range 16–121] and controls [range 29–94]. One GER patient (2%) had slower gastric emptying (T1/2 = 121 min) than the healthy child with the longest T1/2 (94 min). Mean T1/2 was 49 minutes (SD 20.1) and 46 minutes (SD 14.2) in GER patients and controls, respectively (p = .51). Conclusions Gastric emptying rate of milk was not significantly different between children with GER and healthy children. A wide range of gastric emptying rates was observed in both groups.