Electrogastrography: a non-invasive measurement of gastric function.
BACKGROUND
Electrogastrography (EGG) is the non-invasive measurement of gastric electrical activity. With the development of modern technology, improved recording and automated analysis, it is a reliable and accurate technique for the measurement of gastric myoelectrical activity providing information about the frequency and regularity of the gastric slow wave.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this report is to evaluate its role in clinical practice.


METHODS
The literature is reviewed and its role investigated.


RESULTS
EGG has been successfully used in the investigation of gastroparesis, non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD), gastric emptying (GE) disorders and diabetes mellitus (DM). EGG also provides an insight into the effect of medications on gastric function, e.g. edrophonium, cisapride, erythromycin and proton-pump inhibitors (PPI).


CONCLUSIONS
EGG has a developing role in the assessment of gastric dysfunction and on the effect of medical treatment. The effect of surgery and anaesthesia on gastric myoelectric activity is less clear.
Lawlor
P M
PM
GI Function Unit, University Department of Surgery, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
McCullough
J A
JA
Byrne
P J
PJ
Reynolds
J V
JV
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013270:Stomach / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D014628:Vagotomy