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Gastroparesis

Last reviewed: 7 Apr 2025
Last updated: 15 Apr 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • postprandial fullness
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • early satiety
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • epigastric pain
  • fullness
  • bloating
  • weight loss
  • succussion splash
Full details

Risk factors

  • diabetes mellitus
  • previous gastric and pancreatic surgery
  • female sex
  • achalasia
  • atrophic gastritis
  • functional dyspepsia
  • celiac disease
  • anorexia
  • Parkinson disease
  • multiple sclerosis
  • scleroderma
  • amyloidosis
  • systemic lupus erythematosus
  • hypothyroidism
  • chronic renal insufficiency
  • acute viral infection
  • paraneoplastic syndrome (tumor-associated)
  • use of specific drugs
  • alcohol
  • chronic mesenteric ischemia
  • median arcuate ligament syndrome
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • CBC
  • serum glucose
  • serum creatinine
  • serum potassium
  • liver function tests
  • serum total protein
  • serum albumin
  • serum amylase and lipase
  • thyroid-stimulating hormone
  • HbA1c
  • pregnancy test
Full details

Tests to consider

  • gastric emptying scintigraphy
  • upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
  • abdominal x-ray
  • contrast radiography
  • wireless motility capsule (WMC)
  • gastric emptying breath test (GEBT)
Full details

Emerging tests

  • electrogastrography

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

acute symptoms

ONGOING

refractory to medical therapy

Contributors

Authors

Savio C. Reddymasu, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine

Creighton University School of Medicine

Phoenix Regional Campus

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

Phoenix

AZ

Disclosures

SCR is an author of a reference cited in this topic. SCR declares that he has no competing interests.

Mojtaba M. Olyaee, MD

Professor of Medicine

Chief

Division of Gastroenterology

University of Kansas Medical Center

Kansas City

KS

Disclosures

MMO declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

John Kepros, MD

Director

Trauma Services

Assistant Professor

Michigan State University

Lansing

MI

Disclosures

JK declares that he has no competing interests.

Eamonn M.M. Quigley, MD, FRCP, FACP, FACG, FRCPI

Department of Medicine

Clinical Sciences Building

Cork University Hospital

Cork

Ireland

Disclosures

EMMQ declares that he has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Camilleri M, Kuo B, Nguyen L, et al. ACG clinical guideline: gastroparesis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 Aug 1;117(8):1197-220.Full text  Abstract

Lacy BE, Tack J, Gyawali CP. AGA clinical practice update on management of medically refractory gastroparesis: expert review. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Mar;20(3):491-500.Full text  Abstract

Schol J, Wauters L, Dickman R, et al. United European Gastroenterology (UEG) and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) consensus on gastroparesis. United European Gastroenterol J. 2021 Apr;9(3):287-306.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
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