Gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying, is a condition when the stomach takes too long to empty its content into the small intestine. It is frequently caused by diabetes. Other etiologies may include endocrine, autoimmune, psychiatric disorders, as well as prior surgeries and use of some medications.
Symptoms of gastroparesis include:
- Feeling of fullness in the stomach soon after eating starts
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal bloating
- Weight loss
If gastroparesis is suspected, the following tests might be used to make a diagnosis:
- Upper endoscopy - a thin flexible tube with a small camera (an endoscope) is inserted into the esophagus and the stomach through the mouth to examine inside of the stomach. Presence of food in the stomach after more than 8 hours since last meal may be a sign of gastroparesis.
- Smart pill - a wireless capsule swallowed by a patient travels along the GI tract and transmits data about the GI tract to a recorder. It monitors pressure, temperature, and acidity level throughout the entire GI tract. The data is used to calculate transit times through various parts of the GI tract to diagnose gastroparesis, and other GI motility disorders.
- Gastric emptying study – a nuclear medicine test that involves eating a special meal and taking a series of pictures documenting transit of this meal from the stomach.
Treatment
Treatment of gastroparesis may involve dietary modifications and certain medications as well as some experimental therapies.
