Gastrointestinal Electrical Neuromodulation for Functional Gastrointestinal Diseases, Obesity and Diabetes

Abstract

Along the gut, there are rhythmic myoelectrical activities called slow waves that regulate gastrointestinal motility. Impairment in gastrointestinal slow waves and motility causes various disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastroparesis and constipation. Gastrointestinal electrical stimulation has been introduced for the treatment of various motility diseases along the gut. Alternations in gastrointestinal motility are associated with the releases of gastrointestinal hormones, whereas changes in gastrointestinal hormones are believed to be associated with obesity and diabetes. Electrophysiology and motility of the gut are briefly reviewed. Common methods of gastrointestinal electrical stimulation are introduced. Promising or possible applications of these neuromodulation methods for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastroparesis and constipation are discussed. Therapeutic potentials of electrical stimulation of the gut for the treatment of obesity and diabetes are also presented and discussed.