Treatment Options For Gastroparesis

Surgical Intervention

If the cause of this condition is due to a vagus nerve injury, doctors may suggest surgical intervention in the form of a pyloroplasty. Between the small intestine’s duodenum and the stomach’s pylorus is the pyloric sphincter, which acts as a valve that controls how much food flows between these two digestive system components. The vagus nerve plays a role in this valve’s function, so damage to it can interfere with the stomach muscles’ ability to contract efficiently. This surgical procedure allows faster stomach emptying by relaxing and widening the pyloric sphincter. To see if the patient may benefit from this surgery, the doctor might first inject the sphincter with Botox to relax and paralyze it temporarily. If this injection does help to improve the patient’s symptoms, there is a strong chance pyloroplasty will be effective in alleviating their gastroparesis symptoms over the long-term. This procedure can be done laparoscopically or as open surgery.

Continue reading to learn about the next option for gastroparesis treatment.