Gastric Electrical Stimulation With Parameters for Gastroparesis Enhances Gastric Accommodation and Alleviates Distention-Induced Symptoms in Dogs

Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) improves symptoms in patients with gastroparesis. We sought to determine if stimulation at fundus with parameters used for gastroparesis could affect gastric accommodation and distention-induced symptoms in dogs. Nine dogs were implanted with a gastric cannula at the anterior stomach and 1 pair of stimulation electrodes in the fundus. Assessment of gastric accommodation and a series of gastric distention were performed using a barostat. Stimulation parameters were of short pulse trains of 14 Hz, 5 mA, 0.3 ms, and 0.1 s on, 5 s off. GES at fundus significantly decreased fasting gastric tone. Fasting gastric volume was significantly increased from 56.3+/-10.4 mL at baseline to 102.4+/-23.1 mL with stimulation (P=.011). Postprandial gastric accommodation was significantly enhanced with stimulation. The extent of accommodation increased from 249.3+/-39.9 mL in the control session to 325.8+/-25.1 mL with stimulation (P=.011). Symptom scores induced by balloon distention of the stomach were significantly lower during stimulation in comparison with those of baseline (P=.016). In conclusion, GES with parameters for gastroparesis enhances postprandial gastric accommodation and reduces visceral perception in normal dogs. This effect, if seen also in humans, may explain in part the symptomatic improvement associated with GES therapy in patients with gastroparesis.