Gastric Stimulation

Gastroparesis is a disorder limiting normal motility of the stomach, which means foods and liquids do not pass through the stomach normally. This can lead to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and the sensation of feeling overfull or bloated. If your child has not responded to the traditional medical therapies, we can offer gastric electrical stimulation.

Akron Children’s Hospital is one of the few hospitals in the country that provide gastric electrical stimulation therapy for children with gastroparesis. At the beginning of treatment, a temporary gastric electrical stimulator is implanted. If your child has symptom improvement, a permanent gastric stimulator will be placed by a pediatric surgeon with the assistance of a pediatric gastroenterologist. 

During this treatment, your child will be continuously monitored by a gastroenterologist and pediatric surgeon. This allows us to take a comprehensive approach to managing your child’s symptoms throughout the treatment.