Current diagnosis and treatment of gastroparesis: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Normal gastric emptying reflects a coordinated effort between different regions of the stomach and the duodenum, and also an extrinsic modulation by the central nervous system and distal bowel factors. The main events related to normal gastric emptying include relaxation of the fundus to accommodate food, antral contractions to triturate large food particles, the opening of the pyloric sphincter to allow the release of food from the stomach, and anthropyloroduodenal coordination for motor relaxation. Gastric dysmotility includes delayed emptying of the stomach (gastroparesis), accelerated gastric emptying (dumping syndrome), and other motor dysfunctions, e.g., deterioration of the distending fundus, most often found in functional dyspepsia. The symptoms of gastroparesis are nonspecific and may mimic other structural disorders.