1*THERE IS NO 'ABSOLUTE' RATE FOR GASTRIC EMPTYING. THE RATE WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, WHICH INCLUDE:
a. VOLUME OF MEAL
b. OSMOLARITY OF MEAL
c. CARBOHYDRATE/FAT CONTENT OF MEAL
d. SOLID/LIQUID COMPONENTS
e. PHYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS*

* EMPTYING RATE WILL THEREFORE PROVIDE A ROUGH GUIDE TO TRUE GASTRIC EMPTYING BUT ARE OF MOST VALUE IN ASSESSING THE RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION, eq WITH DRUGS, USING THE PATIENT AS HIS OR HER OWN CONTROL*