Reproducibility of ambulatory cutaneous electrogastrography in healthy volunteers

Objective: cutaneous electrogastrography (cEGG) is a technique used for rec ording gastric electrical activity through electrodes placed on the abdomin al skin. Given its increasing use for different pathologies, we decided to study its reliability (or reproducibility), that had never been appropriate ly assessed before. Methods: ambulatory cutaneous electrogastrogram was recorded after US locat ion of the gastric antrum in 26 healthy volunteers with ages ranging from 2 0 to 60 years. cEGG was recorded during 60 minutes in lasting state and 60 minutes after a standard meal and it was repeated in a different day but un der the same conditions. Results: ANOVA analysis showed significant individual differences regarding dominant frequency (DF) (p=0.19) and power ratio (PR) (p=0.11), and before and after the meal, except for DF (p=0.12), dominant power (DP) (p=0.59) a nd bradygastria (p=0.09). No significant differences were found related to the day of the recording. The intra-observer agreement index showed a good agreement in the DF and the percentage of normogastria (0.91). Conclusions: currently, DF and normogastria percentage are the most reliabl e variables for the non-invasive study of gastric electric activity.