Overview

Gastroparesis is a condition in which the stomach muscles do not function in unison to move food for digestion. Generally, the muscles contract to move the food through the digestive system. In cases of gastroparesis, when gastric motility is restored or impaired, it either slows (the more common case) or, very rarely, stops completely, allowing food to stay in the stomach for a longer time. In most cases, the cause of gastroparesis can be unknown. It can be secondary to diabetes, while other individuals may develop it as a complication after surgery or viral illness.

The effect of narcotic analgesics, antidepressants, antihypertensives, weight loss agents, and antihistamines can slow gastric emptying. Symptoms can mimic those of gastroparesis, and, in patients who already have gastroparesis, such drugs can sometimes aggravate the disorder.

Gastroparesis interrupts the process of digestion. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. It can also affect glucose levels and general nutrition. There is no cure for gastroparesis; however, medications and dietary interventions can relieve the symptoms.

Symptoms

Gastroparesis has a variety of symptoms, including:

• Vomiting.
• Nausea.
• Abdominal bloating.
• Abdominal/stomach pain.
• Feeling full or no appetite after eating just a few bites, long after the food is gone.
• Vomiting of undigested food eaten a few hours prior.
• Acid reflux.
• Varying blood sugar levels.
• Loss of appetite.
• Weight loss and malnutrition.

Many people with gastroparesis do not exhibit signs or symptoms.

Some possible causes of gastroparesis remain unclear. Some patients have it due to injury to the vagus nerve, which governs stomach muscle contraction.

By stimulating the vagus nerve, the digestive system is regulated by causing the stomach wall muscles to contract, which in turn facilitates the movement of food into the small intestine. In case of a vagus nerve injury, it might not be able to send proper signals to the stomach muscles. This result delays the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract, keeping it in the stomach for a long time before further processing.

The vagus nerve or its branches can get injured in conditions like diabetes or after surgery on the stomach or small intestine.

Risk factors

The following conditions can increase the chance of being affected by gastroparesis:

• Having diabetes.
• Surgery focuses on the stomach or the tube connecting the throat to the stomach, called the esophagus.
• Viral infections.
• Cancer and cancer treatments, including radiation to the chest or stomach.
• Certain medications that might slow down stomach emptying include opioid pain medications.
• Scleroderma is a condition/disorder that causes the skin to harden and tighten.
• Disorders of the nervous system, like migraine, Parkinson's disease, or multiple sclerosis.
• Thyroid dysfunction, or hypothyroidism.

Women are comparatively more affected than men by gastroparesis.

Complications

Gastroparesis can lead to numerous complications, including:

• Fluid loss: Repeated vomiting can lead to dehydration.
• Malnutrition: Loss of appetite leads to less or insufficient calorie intake. Alternatively, the body may not absorb adequate nutrients because of vomiting.
• Food that does not digest passes very slowly through the stomach. This food may harden into a solid mass called a bezoar. Bezoars may cause nausea and vomiting. If they obstruct the passage of food into the small intestine, they can be life-threatening.
• Changes in blood sugar: Gastroparesis itself does not cause diabetes. However, varying rates and amounts of food entering the small bowel can lead to rapid swings in blood sugar levels. Such fluctuations can further aggravate the diabetes, while poorly controlled blood sugar can reciprocally worsen gastroparesis.
• Reduced quality of life: The complaints may impede work and other day-to-day activities.

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Gastroparesis treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Gastroparesis treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced GI specialists who provide accurate diagnosis, personalized medical care, and surgical gastric stimulation or pyloroplasty options. Our General and Laparoscopic Surgery team has decades of experience in successfully treating Gastroparesis in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Gastroparesis treatment in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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