Effect of retrograde gastric electrical stimulation on water load,food intake and gastric emptying in healthy humans

Objective To investigate the effects of retrograde gastric electrical stimulation(RGES) on gastric accommodation,food intake,and gastric emptying in humans.Methods RGES with a tachygastrial frequency of 9 cycles per minute was performed via a pair of submucosal gastric electrodes implanted 5 cm above the pylorus along great curvature in 12 healthy volunteers.The water load test,food intake test and scintigraphic gastric emptying of test were performed to assess the efficacy of RGES.Results RGES resulted in a reduction in consumption of water by 13%(P0.001),a reduction in food intake by 16%(P0.01),an increase in half time of gastric emptying(P0.05)by 33% and an increase of retention(P0.05) of a solid meal by 15%.No significant symptom was recorded during RGES with the parameters used for the water load,food intake and scintigraphic gastric emptying tests.Conclusions Acute RGES at a tachygastrial frequency results in a significant reduction of gastric accommodation and food intake,and a delay in gastric emptying without inducing any unacceptable symptoms.It may be applied as a potential therapy for obesity.