Laparoscopic and open placement of electronic implants for Gastric Electrical Stimulation (GES): technique and results

Abstract

Gastric Electrical Stimulation (GES) with a fully implantable device including two electrodes to the gastric wall has proven to be an effective treatment of symptoms in patients with gastroparesis and therapy of refractory nausea and vomiting. Stimulation is given continuously with 12 imp/min at 5 mA. Multicentre studies have shown effectiveness in most patients with diabetic and idiopathic gastroperesis but results are promising also for postsurgical gastroparesis. The long-term clinical outcome seems to be similar for the two implantation techniques, laparoscopy and open surgery, but the postoperative hospital stay is shorter after laparoscopy. The improvement in symptoms is not directly related to an improvement in gastric emptying. The mechanisms for relief of symptoms by GES are still unknown.

• Gastroparesis
• gastic electrical stimulation
• gastric motility
• diabetes mellitus
• laparoscopy