Diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders of the stomach

Abstract

Gastric neuromuscular disorders encompass a spectrum of dysfunction in nerve and smooth muscle that includes gastric visceral hypersensitivity, gastric dysrhythmias, fundic dysfunction, antral hypomotility, and gastroparesis. Patients with each disorder may present with such vague dyspepsia symptoms as early satiety, upper abdominal discomfort, bloating, or nausea with or without vomiting. A careful history and physical examination may suggest a gastric neuromuscular disorder, but symptoms are nonspecific. Gastroparesis is the most severe form of neuromuscular dysfunction. Such reversible causes of gastroparesis as mechanical obstruction of the stomach and chronic mesenteric ischemia must be excluded. Gastroparesis, gastric dysrhythmias, and hypersensitivity may follow viral infection or be due to degenerative processes that affect the gastric enteric neurons, smooth muscle, or interstitial cells of Cajal. Commonly, the cause of these gastric neuromuscular disorders is unknown. An approach to the diagnosis and treatment of gastric neuromuscular disorders is reviewed, including dietary counseling, drugs, and medical devices.