Gastric electrical stimulation

When medication does not improve the symptoms of gastroparesis, gastric electrical stimulation may be considered in some cases. A gastric electrical stimulator (like a pacemaker) is inserted beneath the skin of the abdomen, which sends pulses to the gastric muscles so that gastric waves occur more frequently, encourage emptying of the stomach, and modify the sensations arising from the stomach. Some studies have shown that gastric electrical stimulation can have lasting improvements on gastroparesis symptoms in some patients. However, not all patients respond and the treatment is expensive, so research into this treatment approach is ongoing.