Gastric emptying in patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer.

Gastric emptying was measured in patients with proximal gastric, distal gastric and duodenal ulcers using a radioisotopic method. Gastric emptying was rapid in patients with proximal gastric ulcer, and was considered to be due to accelerated proximal evacuation. However, emptying was delayed in patients with distal gastric ulcer, and was considered to be due to reduced emptying in the antrum. On the other hand, rapid emptying seen in duodenal ulcer patients was considered to be due to accelerated emptying in both the proximal stomach and the antrum. Gastric emptying in the healing stage was closer to that in healthy subjects than in patients with active-stage ulcer.