Clinical application of electrogastrography in patients with stomach cancer who undergo distal gastrectomy

Electrogastrography is a method of measuring action potentials of the stomach. The purpose of this study was to investigate early postoperative changes in the electrogastrography and determine the correlation between electrogastrography and quality of life of patients with stomach cancer who underwent distal gastrectomy.

This study analyzed 20 patients with stomach cancer who underwent electrogastrography and quality of life was measured 1, 12, and 24 weeks after the operation. Quality of life-C30 version 3.0 and quality of life-STO22, were used.

Fasting and postprandial mean dominant frequency at 1 week after the operation was 2.7 and 2.7 cycles per minute, and 2.8 and 2.7 cycles per minute at 12 weeks, 2.6 and 2.8 cycles per minute at 24 weeks. Fasting and postprandial mean dominant power at 1 week was 36.5 and 36.4 dB, 36.3 and 40.1 dB at 12 weeks and 40.9 and 42.3 dB at 24 weeks. The percentage of tachygastria was increased whereas the percentage of bradygradia was decreased during the postoperative periods (P<0.05). Global health, physical, emotional and social functioning scales were improved, but role and cognitive functioning were not changed. Pain, insomnia, diarrhea and financial difficulties were significantly improved according to the postoperative periods (P<0.05). The correlation between the STO22 and electrogastrography parameters was not significant (P>0.05).

These may suggest that electrogastrography is a simple and noninvasive method and may be applicated for evaluating motility and autonomic functions of the remnant stomach.