What is delayed stomach emptying?
delayed emptying of the stomach concerns the inability of the stomach to properly grind and break food before reaching the intestines. In almost all cases, the condition is due to the damage of the nerve that controls the stomach muscles called the vagus nerve. The stomach muscles are left partially or fully paralyzed when the vagus nerve is inactive, which seriously affects digestion. Delayed stomach emptying may be difficult to treat, but maintaining specialized diet and using prescription drugs can alleviate flatulence, convulsions, nausea and other symptoms. The content is then released into the intestines to extract nutrients and process waste. If the vagus nerve is damaged or interrupted, the muscles cannot help in breaking solids. The food is very slowly eroded with gastric acids, leading to a delayed emptying of the stomach.
Doctors identified several potential risk factors F or Delayed stomach emptying. Long -term diabetes is the most common cause because the disease slowly worsens the vagus nerve and morenerves in the body. Some people are beginning to have problems with emptying the stomach after the stomach or esophagus surgery due to unintentional damage to the vagus nerve. Patients who use drugs to suppress the nervous system are at risk. The severe bacterial or viral stomach infection can rarely weaken the stomach muscles.
The most common symptoms of delayed emptying of the stomach are frequent seizures of flatulence, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting that start after eating and may take several hours. Because solids cannot be processed immediately, people often feel full after ingestion of very small parts of food. If the condition is not treated, the person may experience considerable weight loss and malnutrition.
Doctor can diagnose delayed stomach emptying by performing a number of specialized tests. A common test called Stomach emptying study involves ingestion of a radioactive marker that can be traced when for forGastrointestinal tract. Endoscopy can also be useful in checking the undigested solids in the stomach. The physician usually also performs abdominal X -ray to eliminate other possible causes such as cancer tumor or congenital defect.
Treatment of delayed emptying of the stomach depends on the severity of the digestive problems and accompanying symptoms. Most patients refer to clinical nutrition experts to develop their own eating plans. Soft foods, nutritional supplements, vitamins and lots of liquids are usually recommended to prevent malnutrition and support easy digestion. If diabetes is found to be an essential factor, the patient may need to run or adjust measures for insulin treatment. In addition, doctors usually prescribe medicines that help fight abolition and vomiting. Surgery for expanding the opening of the stomach is considered to be the final option if conservative treatment are ineffective.