Temporary Gastric Stimulation in Patients With Gastroparesis Symptoms: Low-Resolution Mapping Multiple Versus Single...

Cajal cells have a fundamental role in generating slow waves that regulate gastric motility. Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for symptomatic treatment of drug refractory gastroparesis. We hypothesized that using two leads will vary from a single lead by providing greater insight of gastric electrical wave propagation, through differences in measured frequency, amplitude, and frequency over amplitude ratio. We also hypothesized that a significant reduction in symptomatic vomiting score is highly predictive in a single lead temporary gastric electrical stimulation.

A total of 111 patients with drug-refractory gastroparesis were enrolled. Forty-two patients had single lead, while 69 patients had two leads. All recordings measured mean frequency and amplitude in each lead. Patients documented symptoms using standardized symptom scores at baseline and day 5 post-procedure.

Single lead patients with initial low mucosal frequency showed an increase from 3.10 to 4.93 (P = 0.0155), while the high frequency group decreased from 5.89 to 5.12 (P = 0.135). Vomiting score decreased significantly among both groups with GES (P = 0.0001). For two leads, the mucosal frequency decreased at the proximal electrode (P = 0.402), and increased at the distal electrode (P = 0.514), neither statistically significant (P = 0.143). Mucosal electrogram amplitude values changed for both proximal, mean decrease of 0.34 mV (P = 0.241), and distal, mean increase of 0.05 mV (P = 0.65) with a mean difference 0.34 mV (P = 0.238). However, mucosal electrogram frequency and amplitudes on day 5 were highly dependent on the baseline values (P < 0.001).

Compared to the use of single point electrodes, the use of two low-resolution electrodes allows recording gastric electrical wave propagation with greater detail. Low resolution recording appears to be superior to single point recordings, while awaiting practical high-resolution recordings.