*EMBARGOED All research presented at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting is strictly embargoed until Monday, October 19, 2015 at 8 AM (EDT).
Poster 2057 Gastric Electrical Stimulation Improves Severe Abdominal Pain in Patients With Diabetic and Idiopathic Gastroparesis Over a Three-Year Period
Author Insight from Mehnaz A. Shafi MD, Professor of Medicine, Director, GI Motility, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
What’s new here and important for clinicians?
Gastroparesis (chronic delay in emptying of food from the stomach) is associated with symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Less well understood is abdominal pain, which is also commonly associated with gastroparesis. What causes it, and what is a good treatment for it?
Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) has been used successfully to treat nausea and vomiting associated with severe gastroparesis that has not responded to medications. Its benefit in patients with abdominal pain is less clear and considered to be questionable.
We looked at the effect of GES in patients with severe gastroparesis and chronic abdominal pain. We evaluated 53 patients over three years. Two thirds of these had severe pain (by a validated symptom score), and 1/3 had mild pain. We saw significant improvement in severe pain scores at one year after GES treatment, and this effect was seen at two and three years after GES also. Pain improved significantly in patients with mild symptoms as well. The benefit appeared to be durable over three years.
What do patients need to know?
Patients with chronic abdominal pain, a common and often debilitating symptom of severe gastroparesis, may benefit from gastric electrical stimulation and this benefit may last for years.
Author Contact Mehnaz A. Shafi MD, Professor of Medicine, Director, GI Motility, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
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