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Temple Digestive Disease Center Settles Stomachs Through Electrical Stimulation

For patients with drug-resistant gastroparesis - a condition where food is digested more slowly than normal - there is little relief from the intense nausea and vomiting that follow a meal. However, doctors at the Temple Digestive Disease Center are settling stomachs through electrical stimulation.

About the size of a pocket watch, the Enterra gastric stimulator is implanted just below the skin of the lower abdomen and sends a mild electrical signal to the stomach - relieving nausea and vomiting in more than 60% of gastroparesis patients, according to Henry Parkman, MD, Director of Temple's GI Motility Laboratory.

A leader in gastroparesis research, Temple University Hospital is the only hospital in the region to offer the Enterra treatment. Temple is also one of five hospitals in the nation to participate in the NIH-approved Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium.

In addition to electrical gastric stimulation, the Temple Digestive Disease Center is also testing new diagnostic tools such as the SmartPill, a tiny electronic tablet that transmits digestion information to the doctor after it is swallowed by a patient; and prokinetic treatments, which promote the movement of food through the digestive system

To schedule an appointment with a Temple Digestive Disease Center Physician, click here or call 1-800-TEMPLE-MED [1-800-836-7536].

Date Published: Tuesday, March 31, 2009

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