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Procedure:

• You have been referred for a Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease Study or GORD Study, in which imaging is done whilst swallowing some water.

• This study is done in two parts: the (1st) Sitting/Supine Reflux part and the (2nd) Aspiration Part. Total study time is approximately 3.5 hours.

• A GORD Study is very sensitive in showing gastro-oesophageal reflux (gastric contents travelling back up the oesophagus from the stomach) and also if there is any pulmonary aspiration (gastric contents entering into the lungs).

• The test involves swallowing some water that has a tiny amount of radioactive "tracer" in it.

• The tracer we use is called 99mTc-Colloid (99m-Technetium (Stannous Fluoride)). It is odourless and tasteless.

• There are rarely any side effects with ingesting the tracer.

• The images are done in the sitting and lying down positions.

• We give you a small amount of "radioactive water" to swallow. We then follow this with 200ml of plain non-radioactive water.

• We immediately take a series of images of your stomach and chest in the sitting position for six minutes, using a Gamma Camera (1).

• Following this, you will be asked to lay flat on a scanning bed for a further 30 minutes, while the Gamma Camera images your stomach and chest.

• At the completion of the sitting/supine images, you will be given some extra radioactive water to ingest and told to return in two hours time.

• Upon your return, we concentrate on imaging your lungs to see if there was any pulmonary aspiration whilst you were away. This takes up to 10 minutes to complete. Occasionally, we need to perform 3D imaging of your chest to localise any suspicious activity in the chest. This may take up to a further 15 minutes to complete.

• Your results usually take 2 - 3 hours to produce, hence we usually send these directly to the referring doctor.

• You receive a slight radiation dose by having a Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Study ~ up to 0.3 times your yearly background radiation (2).

 

Patient Preparation:

• If you are pregnant, trying to fall pregnant or breast feeding, you must inform our staff.

• You must NOT eat or drink anything for at least 10 hours prior the test.

• You must not to take any medications for 24Hrs prior the test.

• If you are taking anti-reflux medications, these should be stopped between 24Hrs and 72Hrs prior the test (depending on what is being taken). This should be strictly adhered to unless otherwise specified by your referring doctor.

• If you have had prior imaging e.g. PET, Nuclear Scan, CT, MRI, X-Ray, Ultrasound, etc... please bring these with you.

• Please also bring your referral and any blood results that you may have had done.

• Wear comfortable clothing and minimise the amount of metal jewellery you have on (all metal objects will need to be removed prior to imaging).

• Important Note: You cannot have this test if you have had a PET or Nuclear Scan within 24 hours prior to this test. If you have had Iodine-131 therapy, allow 4-weeks before having this test. Please ring to discuss booking options.​

 

Breast-Feeding Mothers: Once you have been given the tracer, you need to stop breast-feeding for two feeds. During this time, you need to express and discard your breast milk. You will need to bottle-feed your child during this period.

 

 

(1) A Gamma Camera is a device that detects gamma-rays (gamma-rays are very similar to x-rays) and does not emit any radiation.

(2) We all receive a yearly background radiation dose ~ 2.4mSv. Oesophageal Reflux Study ~ 0.8mSv = 0.3 times yearly background dose.