Cutaneous electrogastrography: a recently incorporated technique for the study of gastric motility

Background: Gastric electrical activity can be accurately recorded and analyzed by cutaneous electrogastrography. Different types of abnormalities have been described in a variety of disorders. Aim: To analyze a group of asymptomatic subjects and assess the prevalence and patterns of dysrrhythmias in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes and patients with functional dyspepsia. Patients and methods: One hundred subjects were studied (32 male, mean age 45 years old, 10 asymptomatic, 11 type 1 diabetics, 22 type 2 diabetics and 57 subjects with, functional gastrointestinal disturbances). Gastric myoelectrical activity was recorded using surface electrogastrography for 1 hour in the fasting state and 1 hour after a test meal (350 kcal). Results: The electrogastrogram was normal in 90% of asymptomatic controls. It was abnormal in 64% of type 1 diabetic patients, in 55.5% of type 2 diabetic patients and in 61% of patients with functional dyspepsia. Different types of dysrrhythmias were observed in each group. Conclusions: Electrogastrography might define a subgroup of patients with electrical rhythm disturbances, that may have a different approach to treatment than patients with normal gastric electrical activity.