Gastroparesis: Concepts, Controversies, and Challenges

Box 8

         Targeting Symptoms Surgically

Current knowledge

Surgical treatment plays a limited role in the treatment of gastro-paresis.

Emerging Trends

Case series of gastric electrical stimulation suggest improvement of nausea

and decrease in hospitalizations. However, randomized controlled trials only

showed relatively minor or even no clear benefit during ongoing stimulation.

Gastric electrical stimulation may exert its effect through modulation

of visceral sensory processing.

Future Perspective

If the brain is indeed the target of gastric electrical stimulation, less or even

non-invasive approaches from electrical vagal to transcranial magnetic

stimulation may function as safer alternatives.