Abnormal gastric myoelectrical activity and delayed gastric emptying in patients with symptoms suggestive of gastroparesis

Gastric myoelectrical activity modulates gastric motor activity. Abnormalities in gastric myoelectrical activity may be associated with gastric motility disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of gastric myoelectrical activity with gastric emptying in symptomatic patients with and without gastroparesis. Ninety-seven patients with symptoms suggestive of gastroparesis participated in the study. Gastric myoelectrical activity was recorded using surface electrogastrography. The electrogastrogram (EGG) was recorded for 30 min in the fasting stale and for 120 min after a solid test meal, Gastric emptying of the solid meal was simultaneously monitored for 120 min. Patients with delayed gastric emptying showed a significantly lower percentage of normal gastric slow waves (P <0.03) and a significantly reduced increase of the dominant power in the pastprandial EGF (P <0.02). Postprandial EGG parameters were found to be able to predict delayed emptying of the stomach. Postprandial gastric dysrhythmia predicts delayed gastric emptying with an accuracy of 78%, while the abnormality in postprandial EGG power predicts delayed gastric emptying All patients with abnormalities in both the rhythmicity and the power had delayed gastric emptying, Patients with delayed gastric emptying have a lower dominant power, Abnormalities in the postprandial EGG seem to be able to predict delayed emptying of the stomach. However, a normal EGG does not seem to guarantee normal emptying of the stomach.