Gastrointestinal Transit Estimated by an Isotope Capsule

Abstract

Kirwan, W. O. & Smith, A. N. Gastrointestinal transit estimated by an isotope capsule. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 763–766.

An isotope capsule method of determining total gastrointestinal and colonic transit time is described. The method has been validated as a means of determining transit time by comparing it with radio-opaque markers. There was agreement in normals and in constipation but not in diarrhoea. The effect of varying the specific gravity on the rate of transit of the isotope capsule has been studied; transit was accelerated by increasing specific gravity from 1.1 to 1.35 and by reducing it to 0.93. Colonic transit has been measured directly and indirectly. There was delay at the splenic flexure and rectosigmoid in constipated subjects but at the rectosigmoid only in normals.

Key-words::

• Capsule
• colon
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• gastrointestinal tract
• isotope
• specific gravity