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Gastric dysmotility, or gastroparesis, is a serious medical condition caused by impaired stomach peristalsis. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and abdominal distension. Treatment involves dietary changes, medication, and surgery, and can include a feeding tube for those who cannot tolerate food. Complications can include the formation of a bezoar and bacterial imbalance. Diagnosis involves a gastric emptying study and imaging tests. There is no cure for gastroparesis, so treatment is focused on symptom management.
Functional impairment of stomach peristalsis is a serious medical condition known as gastric dysmotility. Triggered by the inability of the stomach muscles to properly introduce food through the lower portion of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, gastric dysmotility can induce a variety of symptoms and complications. There is no cure for gastric dysmotility, so treatment for this condition generally involves dietary changes and may require additional measures, including medications and surgery.
The development of impaired muscle function demonstrated with gastric dysmotility often presents with a variety of signs and symptoms. Those with this condition commonly develop persistent nausea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. Individuals with gastric dysmotility, also known as gastroparesis, often experience involuntary weight loss and malnutrition. Symptomatic individuals can also be diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is characterized by the accumulation of excess stomach acid in the stomach, due to impaired digestion. The stomach’s inability to fully process the food it contains commonly causes abdominal distension and pronounced blood sugar fluctuations.
The progressive nature of undiagnosed gastroparesis symptoms places a symptomatic individual at a higher risk for developing complications. Left untreated, gastroparesis can lead to solidification of undigested food in the lower stomach, eventually forming a mass known as a bezoar. The presence of a bezoar can impair bowel function leading to a potentially life-threatening condition that requires prompt and appropriate treatment. Additionally, the long-term presence of undigested food particles in the stomach can contribute to bacterial imbalance by increasing an individual’s risk of further complications, including infection.
For most people, persistent symptoms usually require a visit to a doctor. If gastroparesis is suspected, a diagnostic tool known as a gastric emptying study can be used to assess the efficiency of an individual’s digestive system. Imaging tests may also be done to evaluate the condition and function of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Taken together, the test results can be evaluated to determine the underlying cause of the gastroparesis and rule out other conditions that may mimic gastric dysmotility in presentation.
There is no single contributing factor associated with the development of impaired muscle function that presents with gastric dysmotility. It has been argued that damage to the vagus nerve, often resulting from injury or the presence of disease, can interfere with the signal communications necessary for proper food digestion. Because there is no cure for gastroparesis, treatment is often multifaceted in approach and centered around adequate symptom management.
In general, dietary changes are the first step in any treatment approach. Individuals are often encouraged to eat less food and eat frequent, smaller meals throughout the day. Food recommendations are often personalized, including foods that the individual can easily digest. Those who experience serious complications or a complete intolerance to any form of food consumption may have a feeding tube, known as a jejunostomy tube, inserted. The permanence of the tube is often subordinated to various factors, including the stabilization of one’s condition.
It is not uncommon for medications to be used to ease the effects of certain symptoms. In many cases, a stimulant-like drug may be given to help promote proper peristalsis of the stomach. Those experiencing persistent vomiting and nausea may be prescribed an antiemetic drug to prevent dehydration and malnutrition. When neither dietary changes nor medications work to relieve symptoms, surgery may be done to improve stomach peristalsis and proper functioning of the digestive system.
