ABNORMAL GASTRIC MYOELECTRICAL ACTIVITY AND DELAYED GASTRIC-EMPTYING IN PATIENTS WITH SYMPTOMS SUGGESTIVE OF GASTROPARESIS

Gastric myoelectrical activity modulates gastric motor activity. Abnor malities in gastric myoelectrical activity may be associated with gast ric motility disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the c orrelation of gastric myoelectrical activity with gastric emptying in symptomatic patients with and without gastroparesis. Ninety-seven pati ents with symptoms suggestive of gastroparesis participated in the stu dy. Gastric myoelectrical activity was recorded using surface electrog astrography. The electrogastrogram (EGG) was recorded for 30 min in th e fasting stale and for 120 min after a solid test meal, Gastric empty ing of the solid meal was simultaneously monitored for 120 min. Patien ts with delayed gastric emptying showed a significantly lower percenta ge of normal gastric slow waves (P <0.03) and a significantly reduced increase of the dominant power in the pastprandial EGF (P <0.02). Post prandial EGG parameters were found to be able to predict delayed empty ing of the stomach. Postprandial gastric dysrhythmia predicts delayed gastric emptying with an accuracy of 78%, while the abnormality in pos tprandial EGG power predicts delayed gastric emptying All patients wit h abnormalities in both the rhythmicity and the power had delayed gast ric emptying, Patients with delayed gastric emptying have a lower domi nant power, Abnormalities in the postprandial EGG seem to be able to p redict delayed emptying of the stomach. However, a normal EGG does not seem to guarantee normal emptying of the stomach.