Treatment of diabetic gastroparesis by high-frequency gastric electrical stimulation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the long-term efficacy of high-frequency gastric electrical stimulation (GES) for treating diabetic gastroparesis.


METHODS
This is a retrospective review of 48 adult diabetic patients with refractory gastroparesis who had a GES system implanted surgically and had follow-up evaluations at 6 and 12 months. The outcome measures were total symptom score (TSS), derived from six upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptom subscores; health-related quality of life (HQOL), including physical composite score (PCS) and mental composite score (MCS) assessed by SF-36 questionnaire, radionuclide gastric emptying test, nutritional status, HbA1c, and adverse events.


RESULTS
In comparison with baseline, TSS, all six upper GI symptom subscores, PCS, and MCS were significantly improved at 6 months, with the improvement sustained at 12 months. Of 13 patients receiving nutritional support at baseline by tube feeding, only 5 required supplemental enteral feeding at 12 months, and none of the 9 on total parenteral nutrition continued this support. The mean number of hospitalization days during the year after GES was significantly reduced by 52 days compared with the prior year. HbA1c levels were significantly reduced at 12 months. Gastric emptying was only minimally and not significantly faster. Because of infections at the pulse generator pocket site, four patients had their GES systems removed 3-17 months postsurgery.


CONCLUSIONS
In diabetic patients with refractory gastroparesis, high-frequency GES by a permanently implanted system significantly improved upper GI symptoms, HQOL, nutritional status, glucose control, and hospitalizations with an acceptably low complication rate.
Lin
Zhiyue
Z
Department of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA.
Forster
Jameson
J
Sarosiek
Irene
I
McCallum
Richard W
RW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003710:Demography; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001786:Blood Glucose