Neuro-gastroenterology: Gastroduodenal Function (Motility) and Ultrasonographic Assessment

Although the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia (FD) remains unclear, gastrointestinal motility disorders, impaired gastric accommodation after meals, visceral hypersensitivity, abnormal duodenojejunal motility, psychological disturbance, and changes in the gastric microbiota have been suggested as underlying central mechanisms. We have evaluated gastrointestinal motility by using ultrasonographic (US) methods. Ultrasonographic assessment of gastrointestinal motility was performed to measure fasting gastric area, gastric accommodation reflex, gastric emptying rate, antral contractions, and duodenogastric reflux using the previously reported method. However, some of these parameters were proved to have important meanings more than an original plan. If these parameters are used for the assessment of gastroduodenal motility, one or more abnormal parameters can be observed in the patients with FD. In this clause, we explain the preparation (test meal), procedure, and parameters of this ultrasound method.