Gastroparesis is the medical term for delayed gastric emptying.

During the digestion process, the stomach must contract to get rid of food and liquid. Normally it contracts about three times per minute. This empties the stomach within 90-120 minutes after eating.

If contractions are slow or less frequent, gastric emptying is delayed.

This leads to unpleasant but sometimes serious symptoms, as well as malnutrition, because food is not digested properly.

Gastroparesis can be caused by several conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, certain nervous system disorders, or certain medications. However, often no cause can be found, although in some a viral infection is suspected.

The doctor may prescribe medication to contract the stomach.

The goal of the gastroparesis diet is to reduce symptoms and maintain adequate fluid and nutrition.

The diet has three steps and you can download them here (ENG).

There are various causes that can result in delayed gastric emptying, such as diabetes, infection, medication use and the stomach muscle can also be disturbed by the effects of anesthesia or by the stress that an operation places on the patient.

In general, gastroparesis resulting from surgery is short-lived.

In most cases, the cause of gastroparesis is unknown (idiopathic).

Gastroparesis can occur in three different degrees: mild, moderate and severe.

In severe gastroparesis we speak of total paralysis of the stomach and it is necessary to place a nasogastric tube or tube in the abdomen that leads to the intestine. If the food is not tolerated or is not absorbed, the last resort is to place a port catheter. for TPN power supply.

POTS and Gastroparesis

Gastrointestinal disorders are frequent and long-lasting in patients with POTS, which affects quality of life.

A recent study shows that as many as two-thirds of patients with POTS have functional disorders of the GI system (general disorders and not always gastroparesis, these figures are less significant).

Treating autonomic dysfunction in POTS and dietary changes can improve GI dysfunction associated with POTS.

The link between delayed gastric emptying and POTS is only an association, the expertise on this is still very limited and little information is currently available, further studies are needed in the future.

The postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome has periods in which the complaints seem to improve and the patient feels stable with the right treatment methods. Some stress factors can also provoke a POTS attack, causing the complaints to suddenly worsen / new complaints arise, such as reduced functioning of the stomach muscle.

These stressors may include - infections, surgery, stress, extreme heat or trauma.