Gastroparesis
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of gastroparesis range from mild to severe and commonly include:
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of gastroparesis begins with X-rays and an endoscopy. If your doctor does not detect another problem, the following tests may be recommended to make a definite diagnosis.
Endoscopy -- During this procedure, the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract is visualized with a flexible endoscope. The areas examined include the esophagus, or the swallowing tube leading to the stomach, the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
The procedure is performed using an endoscope, which is a long, thin and flexible tube with a tiny video camera and light on the end. By adjusting the various controls on the endoscope, the gastroenterologist can safely maneuver the instrument to carefully examine the inside lining of the upper digestive system. The endoscope contains a channel that allows instruments to be passed in order to take tissue samples, remove polyps and provide other therapy. The high-quality picture from the endoscope is shown on a TV monitor. In many cases, upper GI endoscopy is a more precise examination than X-ray studies.
Gastric Emptying Scan -- For this test, you will eat foods, typically eggs, that contain a very safe radioisotope, a slightly radioactive substance that will show up on the scan. The dose of radiation from the radioisotope is small and not dangerous. After eating, you will lie under a machine that shows an image of the food in the stomach and how quickly it leaves the stomach. A diagnosis of gastroparesis is made if more than half of the food remains in the stomach after 60 to 90 minutes. However, sometimes it requires more than one gastric emptying scan to detect gastroparesis.
Manometry -- A test that measures the strength of your stomach contractions.
Electrogastrogram -- This test is for patients who are experiencing unexplained nausea and vomiting. During the one-hour procedure, electrodes are placed on your stomach, which record the electrical activity of your stomach. This must be performed on an empty stomach, followed by a liquid meal.
Treatment
Dietary Requirements
Therapy for gastroparesis requires that you follow certain dietary requirements, such as eating small meals throughout the day and avoiding foods that are difficult to digest. These include fatty foods, legumes, lentils and citrus fruits. If you have gastroparesis as a complication of diabetes, you may need to increase your insulin therapy.
Medications
Medications also are used to treat gastroparesis. One of the most effective is metoclopramide, which helps the stomach to empty by stimulating stomach activity. It also may relieve nausea and vomiting. Common side effects include drowsiness and fatigue. In addition, some people may experience depression, movement disorders, anxiety and breast tenderness or discharge. Metoclopramide is not recommended for patients with Parkinson's disease.
The antibiotic erythromycin also improves stomach emptying, but its side effects of nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps limit its usefulness. One additional drug called domperidone is not yet approved for use in the United States, but is under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Domperidone improves stomach emptying by stimulating stomach motor activity, relieves nausea and has few side effects. Additional new methods are being evaluated in studies, and it is recommended that you speak to your doctor about these.
If drugs do not work for you, your doctor may recommend a jejunostomy tube, which allows food to bypass your stomach. Liquid nutrition, fluids and medication are delivered directly to the small bowel through the tube during severe attacks of gastroparesis. In extremely acute cases of gastroparesis, patients may need a semi-permanent intravenous (IV) line that delivers nutrients and fluids directly into the bloodstream.
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