Short pulse gastric electrical stimulation for cisplatin-induced emesis in dogs

In a previous study, we investigated the ameliorating effect of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) with a single set of parameters on emesis and behaviors suggestive of nausea induced by cisplatin in dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GES with different parameters on cisplatin-induced emesis in dogs.

Seven dogs implanted with gastric serosal electrodes were studied in six randomized sessions: one control session with cisplatin (2 mg kg(-1)) and five sessions with cisplatin plus GES of different parameters: GES-A: 14 Hz, 5 mA, 0.3 ms, 0.1 s on and 5 s off; GES-B: increased frequency and on-time; GES-C: increased frequency; GES-D: increased frequency and pulse width; and GES-E: increased frequency and amplitude. Gastric slow waves and emetic responses were recorded in each session.

(i) Cisplatin induced emetic responses and gastric dysrhythmia. The peak time of the emetic response was during the fourth hour after cisplatin. (ii) GES with appropriate parameters reduced cisplatin-induced emesis. The number of vomiting times during the 6 h after cisplatin was 7.0 ± 1.4 in the control, 4.7 ± 1.2 with GES-A (P = 0.179), 4.2 ± 1.2 with GES-B (P = 0.109), 7.0 ± 0.8 with GES-C (P = 0.928), 2.1 ± 0.3 with GES-D (P = 0.005) and 4.7 ± 1.5 with GES-E (P = 0.129). However, none of the GES parameters could improve gastric dysrhythmia.

Gastric electrical stimulation with appropriate parameters reduces cisplatin-induced emetic responses and behaviors suggestive of nausea in dogs. Among the tested parameters, GES with increased pulse width seems to produce better relief of cisplatin-induced emesis.