Gastric Electrical Stimulation
Take control of your gastroparesis symptoms through minimally invasive gastric stimulation placement
If you are experiencing discomfort from gastroparesis, gastric electrical stimulation can help minimize your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
What is Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a paralysis of the stomach or a stomach that empties slowly. In a normal stomach, the vagus nerve helps contract the stomach to move food into the small intestine.
With gastroparesis, the vagus nerve is not functioning and food does not move properly. Symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Heartburn
- Feeling full after eating a small amount of food
Your doctor will do a series of tests to diagnosis gastroparesis. Learn more about the symptoms, causes and other treatment options for gastroparesis.
What is a gastric stimulator?
A gastric stimulator is a small, implanted device that sends mild electrical pulses to the stomach muscles through two lead wires.
The device allows for food to move more easily through the stomach. It controls symptoms associated with gastroparesis like nausea and vomiting. The stimulator has been shown to reduce vomiting frequency and increase quality of life in patients with gastroparesis.
The device is FDA-approved as a humanitarian use device, meaning it has been approved to treat less than 4,000 people a year in the U.S.
How is the gastric stimulator implanted?
If your doctor decides you are a good candidate for gastric electrical stimulation, you will be referred to a surgeon.
The minimally invasive implanted treatment option takes one to two hours under general anesthesia. While you are asleep, your surgeon will place the gastric stimulator under the skin of the abdomen and connect the two wires to your stomach muscles.
When the stimulator is implanted, it will be placed on the initial settings. The stimulation can be adjusted later, if needed, without requiring surgical operations.
You will come back in one month for a settings check.
Insurance
Every insurance company is different in the procedures they will cover. You are responsible for determining what out-of-pocket costs you are responsible for.
If your doctor recommends gastric electrical stimulation, we will work with your insurance company to provide the results and physician statements on why the procedure is beneficial. This can be time-consuming, but our team will try to work as fast as possible.
We verify coverage of this device and placement prior to the procedure. Our project coordinator personally speaks to every patient and keeps them up to date in a timely manner.
What to Expect with Gastric Electrical Stimulation
What is Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a paralysis of the stomach or a stomach that empties slowly. In a normal stomach, the vagus nerve helps contract the stomach to move food into the small intestine.
With gastroparesis, the vagus nerve is not functioning and food does not move properly. Symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Heartburn
- Feeling full after eating a small amount of food
Your doctor will do a series of tests to diagnosis gastroparesis. Learn more about the symptoms, causes and other treatment options for gastroparesis.
What is a gastric stimulator?
A gastric stimulator is a small, implanted device that sends mild electrical pulses to the stomach muscles through two lead wires.
The device allows for food to move more easily through the stomach. It controls symptoms associated with gastroparesis like nausea and vomiting. The stimulator has been shown to reduce vomiting frequency and increase quality of life in patients with gastroparesis.
The device is FDA-approved as a humanitarian use device, meaning it has been approved to treat less than 4,000 people a year in the U.S.
How is the gastric stimulator implanted?
If your doctor decides you are a good candidate for gastric electrical stimulation, you will be referred to a surgeon.
The minimally invasive implanted treatment option takes one to two hours under general anesthesia. While you are asleep, your surgeon will place the gastric stimulator under the skin of the abdomen and connect the two wires to your stomach muscles.
When the stimulator is implanted, it will be placed on the initial settings. The stimulation can be adjusted later, if needed, without requiring surgical operations.
You will come back in one month for a settings check.
Insurance
Every insurance company is different in the procedures they will cover. You are responsible for determining what out-of-pocket costs you are responsible for.
If your doctor recommends gastric electrical stimulation, we will work with your insurance company to provide the results and physician statements on why the procedure is beneficial. This can be time-consuming, but our team will try to work as fast as possible.
We verify coverage of this device and placement prior to the procedure. Our project coordinator personally speaks to every patient and keeps them up to date in a timely manner.
Do I have to stay the night in the hospital?
After your stimulator placement, your surgeon will decide whether you will be admitted for an overnight stay in the hospital.
If you are admitted overnight, you will be given intravenous (IV) hydration and antibiotics before and after your procedure until you are discharged to your home. If needed, you may be prescribed pain medication upon your discharge.
The effects of the gastric stimulator may not be immediate. Following your procedure, you will be put on a full liquid and progress to small, frequent meals as tolerated.
What happens when I go home? Going back to work?
Along with your home medications, you will be given a course of antibiotics to finish over the next seven days to prevent infection. Your doctor will educate you on of signs of infection to be aware of such as redness, swelling, and drainage.
Upon discharge, you will receive a temporary ID card for your gastric stimulator. A permanent card will be mailed to you within a few weeks of your surgery. Please carry this ID card with you at all times.
During recovery time, patients are to avoid stretching, bending, twisting, and cannot lift anything greater than 15 pounds. You can return to light-duty work the day after your discharge. If you require a note for your profession, please ask your doctor.
Will I need to come back for more testing?
After your stimulator placement, you will come in at the one-month mark for a follow-up visit. During this appointment, you will discuss your symptoms with your doctor to determine if the settings need to be adjusted. You may need several appointments your first year to find the right setting for you.
After your initial follow-up, you will come in once a year for a checkup. At these appointments your doctor will check your settings and battery life. Everybody’s battery life varies, so it is important to schedule your yearly checkups.
If you continue to experience symptoms of gastroparesis, discuss further testing and alternative treatment options with your doctor.
After Your Gastric Stimulator Implantation
Do I have to stay the night in the hospital?
After your stimulator placement, your surgeon will decide whether you will be admitted for an overnight stay in the hospital.
If you are admitted overnight, you will be given intravenous (IV) hydration and antibiotics before and after your procedure until you are discharged to your home. If needed, you may be prescribed pain medication upon your discharge.
The effects of the gastric stimulator may not be immediate. Following your procedure, you will be put on a full liquid and progress to small, frequent meals as tolerated.
What happens when I go home? Going back to work?
Along with your home medications, you will be given a course of antibiotics to finish over the next seven days to prevent infection. Your doctor will educate you on of signs of infection to be aware of such as redness, swelling, and drainage.
Upon discharge, you will receive a temporary ID card for your gastric stimulator. A permanent card will be mailed to you within a few weeks of your surgery. Please carry this ID card with you at all times.
During recovery time, patients are to avoid stretching, bending, twisting, and cannot lift anything greater than 15 pounds. You can return to light-duty work the day after your discharge. If you require a note for your profession, please ask your doctor.
Will I need to come back for more testing?
After your stimulator placement, you will come in at the one-month mark for a follow-up visit. During this appointment, you will discuss your symptoms with your doctor to determine if the settings need to be adjusted. You may need several appointments your first year to find the right setting for you.
After your initial follow-up, you will come in once a year for a checkup. At these appointments your doctor will check your settings and battery life. Everybody’s battery life varies, so it is important to schedule your yearly checkups.
If you continue to experience symptoms of gastroparesis, discuss further testing and alternative treatment options with your doctor.
