title: Gastric electrical stimulation for children with intractable nausea and gastroparesis.
abstract: 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.
authors: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 32916, USA.
authors: Saleem
authors: S
authors: Islam
authors: Laura R
authors: LR
authors: Vick
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Runnels
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Gosche
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Abell
mesh_terms: 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*