Measurement of gastric emptying rate.

Gastric emptying rate was measured chronically using an electromagnetic probe inserted into the proximal duodenum via a duodenal cannula. Each duodenal gush was identified and its value calculated on the basis of pre-established threshold and timing criteria which eliminate shifts in the baseline and artefacts due to the presence of particles. The net flow of digestive contents and the aboral cumulative flow were displayed online. This system has been used in sheep for continuous measurement of duodenal flow over periods of 3-5 weeks.