Search PubMedSearch

PubMed · 7973262

[Simple tests for small intestinal function].

Abstract

Simple tests of small intestinal function not only allow to verify and quantitate malabsorption syndromes, but also permit to make first differential diagnostic decisions which in turn allow to employ more invasive or elaborate techniques on a more rational and restricted base. Essential diagnostic procedures comprise the analysis of fecal wet weight, fecal fat excretion, occasionally of serum beta-carotene concentration, the D-xylose test, the breath-hydrogen test with either lactose or glucose as substrates, the detection of bile acid malabsorption with 75Se-HCAT and of protein-loosing enteropathies by means of the fecal clearance of alpha-1-antitrypsin.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

B Lembcke. 1994-10-18. [Simple tests for small intestinal function].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7973262/

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

[Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis].

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 56-year-old man was admitted to hospital for investigation of meteorism and severe flatulence for 10 months and irregular stools. He had no previous illness. On examination his abdomen was quite distended, with very active but low-pitched peristalsis. INVESTIGATION: Plain x-ray of the abdomen showed multiple round translucencies along the wall of the left hemicolon. Coloscopy revealed multiple firm-walled cysts in the descending and sigmoid colon which contained H2 in high concentration. Histologically there was slight inflammatory infiltration of the submucosa as well as some slit-like hollow spaces, pointing to the diagnosis of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. The H2 breath test, done to confirm the diagnosis, indicated increased H2-concentration, both on fasting and after lactulose. TREATMENT AND COURSE: A diet low in flatulence-producing carbohydrates satisfactorily controlled the symptoms, but the local findings remained unchanged over 4 years. CONCLUSION: Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis should be included in the differential diagnosis of meteorism and flatulence. Diet can satisfactorily control the symptoms of this rare disease.

Breath Tests

Cisapride reduces postoperative gastrocaecal transit time after cardiac surgery in children.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of the prokinetic drug cisapride on gastrocaecal transit time (GCTT) in children after open heart surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized and controlled study. SETTING: Interdisciplinary paediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary-care children's hospital. PATIENT: Twenty-one children with a median age of 6.2 years on day 1 after uncomplicated open heart surgery for isolated septal defects, acquired mitral or aortic valve disease or tetralogy of Fallot. Control group consisting of 10 healthy children with a median age of 8.1 years. INTERVENTIONS: Ten children were randomized to receive cisapride 0.2 mg/kg body weight, 30 min prior to measurement of GCTT. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: GCTT was measured using hydrogen breath testing with a test solution containing lactulose and mannitol (0.4 g/kg and 0.1 g/kg body weight respectively). GCTT was markedly delayed in all patients compared to the control group. Within 8 h 8/10 patients in the treatment group versus 4/11 patients in the non-cisapride group achieved gastrocaecal transit. No adverse side-effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Cisapride accelerates gastrocaecal transit after open heart surgery in children. In intensive care patients on inotropic support or opioid medication, it may facilitate the earlier reintroduction of enteral feeding.

Breath Tests