Treatment Options For Gastroparesis

In the United States, it is estimated over 1.5 million individuals have gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying. Approximately 100,000 patients have severe symptoms. Gastroparesis is characterized by food moving abnormally slow through the stomach, which can result in chronic, severe vomiting, fullness, abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, and early satiety. Since eating can be very uncomfortable, patients may purposely reduce their food intake to find relief from symptoms, which could result in malnutrition. Other possible complications include severe dehydration, worsening of diabetes, and food becoming hard masses, resulting in vomiting, nausea, and stomach obstruction.