Gastroparesis occurs when nerves in the stomach don’t work properly and food is trapped in the stomach for longer than usual. This delay changes the digestion process, often leading to discomfort.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating and the feeling of being full when eating a small amount of food. Gastroparesis is often caused by diabetes and thyroid disorders.
Treatments
Surgical Interventions
Pyloromyotomy: A minimally invasive procedure performed under general anesthesia that facilitates stomach emptying into the small intestine by splitting some of the muscle of the pylorus sphincter where the stomach connects into the small intestine.
Gastric Stimulator Placement: A minimally invasive surgery performed under general anesthesia where an implantable system that consists of two leads is placed in the muscle of the stomach. These leads are attached to a device that is placed under the skin which delivers a mild electrical stimulation to the lower stomach muscle and reduces the chronic nausea and vomiting associated with Gastroparesis. This procedure is also known as "Gastric Pacing".