Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is a long-term disorder of the digestive tract in which weak or poorly working stomach muscles delay the emptying of food into the small intestine. It is uncommon and is reported more often in women than in men. Diabetes is a leading association; surgery that injures the vagus nerve, and radiation to the chest or stomach, can also lead to it, and often the cause is unknown. Typical symptoms are early fullness, nausea, vomiting, tummy pain, heartburn and bloating; complications include dehydration, malnutrition and weight loss. Assessment usually begins with blood tests and imaging to exclude other conditions, followed by gastroscopy and tests that measure how quickly the stomach empties. Management is long-term, combining diet changes with medicines that speed stomach emptying, relieve nausea or ease pain. Some people need a feeding tube, an injection that relaxes the stomach outlet valve, or surgery.

Seek urgent care for vomiting blood, black or bloody stools, severe abdominal pain, or difficulty swallowing. See a doctor for heartburn more than twice a week, a change in bowel habit lasting more than three weeks, or unexplained weight loss. Call the local emergency number for any symptom that is sudden and severe. This page is a reference for healthcare professionals and does not replace an assessment.