Gastric electrical stimulation, also known as implantable gastric stimulation, is the use of specific devices to provide electrical stimulation to the

stomach The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and many other animals, including several invertebrates. The stomach has a dilated structure and functions as a vital organ in the digestive system. The stomach i ...

to try to bring about weight loss in those who are overweight or improve

gastroparesis Gastroparesis (gastro- from Ancient Greek γαστήρ – gaster, "stomach"; and -paresis, πάρεσις – "partial paralysis"), also called delayed gastric emptying, is a medical disorder consisting of weak muscular contractions (peristalsis) ...

. Gastric electrical stimulation is a pacemaker-like device with electrical connections to the surface of the

. The device works by disrupting of the motility cycle or stimulating

enteric nervous system The enteric nervous system (ENS) or intrinsic nervous system is one of the main divisions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and consists of a mesh-like system of neurons that governs the function of the gastrointestinal tract. It is capable of ...

. There are a number of different devices on the market including Transend, Maestro, and Diamond.

Medical uses

These devices are for treatment of

. The best available evidence, however, find that they are of questionable utility for this condition. As of 2017 it is not approved for use for

obesity Obesity is a medical condition, sometimes considered a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it may negatively affect health. People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a person's ...

in the United States. The first studies done did not find a benefit, however, research is ongoing.

Mechanism of action

Once food leaves the stomach and enters the duodenum, the gut-brain-liver axis is activated, which involves signaling between the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system. For patients without type 2 diabetes, the gastric transit time of food is estimated to be 30–45 minutes (the time from food ingestion to food leaving the stomach into the duodenum). In type 2 diabetes, the neurohormonal communication system is impaired. Delayed signaling within the gut-brain-liver axis leads to high blood glucose concentration after meals.

Usage

There are approximately 4,000 gastric pacer surgeries a year in the United States.

Approval

The Diamond system first received CE mark in 2007 and is approved for sale in Europe, Australia, and Hong Kong.Israel21c. MetaCure treats diabetes without meds. http://www.israel21c.org/metacure-treats-diabetes-without-meds/ Accessed on November 30, 2015. It is not approved in the United States for obesity.

References

{{reflist Medical technology