Gastroparesis is a medical disorder characterized by delayed gastric emptying due to ineffective neuromuscular contractions (peristalsis) of the stomach, causing food and liquid to remain in the stomach for an abnormally long time without any physical blockage. This leads to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, feeling full quickly after beginning to eat, and heartburn. The condition can result from damage to the vagus nerve, often caused by uncontrolled diabetes, surgical injury, or other systemic illnesses, but many cases are idiopathic (unknown cause). Diagnosis involves tests like gastric emptying scans, and treatment includes dietary changes, medications to stimulate gastric emptying or reduce vomiting, and in some cases, surgical interventions or gastric electrical stimulation. Malnutrition and poor glycemic control are common complications in gastroparesis cases. Key details include:
- Gastroparesis slows stomach emptying without physical blockage.
- Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, early satiety, bloating, abdominal pain.
- Common causes: diabetes-related nerve damage, idiopathic, post-surgery.
- Diagnosis: gastric emptying studies, imaging tests.
- Treatments: dietary adjustment, prokinetic drugs, antiemetics, sometimes surgery.
- Complications: malnutrition, weight loss, vitamin deficiencies, irregular absorption, particularly in diabetes.
This overview covers pathophysiology, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for gastroparesis.
