Gastric electrical stimulation for children with intractable nausea and gastroparesis.
OBJECTIVE
Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) has been performed in adults as a treatment of refractory nausea and vomiting in patients who have failed medical treatment, but has not been used in children.


METHODS
Nine patients with chronic nausea and vomiting with a mean age of 14 years were evaluated for temporary GES. All 9 patients subsequently underwent placement of a temporary followed by permanent GES device. Symptoms were recorded at baseline, after temporary GES, and then after permanent GES using a Likert scale for gastroparesis. Statistical analysis was performed using a paired Student's t test.


RESULTS
At baseline, all patients were symptomatic and most had delayed solid gastric emptying. As a group, there was a significant improvement in combined symptoms score (P = .04), nausea (P = .039), and vomiting (P = .0016). Gastric emptying and electrogastrogram values did not change significantly. Follow-up ranged from 8 to 42 months, with 7 of the 9 patients reporting sustained improvement in symptoms and improved quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastric electrical stimulation can be successfully applied to adolescents with intractable nausea and gastroparesis symptoms who fail medical therapy. There is a significant improvement in symptoms over a prolonged period, and there are no adverse effects of the GES. Long-term efficacy of this therapy in children needs to be established.
Islam
Saleem
S
Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 32916, USA.
Vick
Laura R
LR
Runnels
Matthew J
MJ
Gosche
John R
JR
Abell
Thomas
T
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*