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Challenge of gastroparesis

Although it takes an average of 5 years from the onset of symptoms until diagnosis, the journey of gastroparesis hardly ends there — for patients or providers.1

Between an evolving understanding of the disease’s characteristics and pathophysiology and limited treatment options, gastroparesis remains challenging to treat.

Graphs demonstrating change of emptying status without significant changes to GCSI symptom severity scoring.

Gastroparesis is more than a motility issue

While the combination of delayed emptying and cardinal symptoms defines gastroparesis, the correlation between these two criteria is not well established.2

In 2021, a NIH Gastroparesis Consortium-funded 12-year study examining 944 patients across 2 multi-center prospective registries found that gastric-emptying test (GET) results are labile and do not reliably capture the pathophysiology of clinical symptoms.3

Current treatments focused on addressing motility often fail, leaving gastroparesis patients without options focused on relieving nausea and vomiting—the most distressing symptoms of gastroparesis.1

It’s a satisfaction and quality of life issue

Every year, there are approximately 2.5 million gastroparesis-related Google searches. Today, there are more than 100,000 members of online support communities for gastroparesis.

The exhaustion, isolation, and frustration of gastroparesis is real and costly:

  • Gastroparesis patients experience higher rates of
    unemployment, underemployment and reduced
    daily activies4,5
  • Nausea and vomiting symptoms negatively correlate with
    gastroparesis patients’ physical and mental health quality of
    life scores1

In a recent survey of 1,423 gastroparesis patients, only 4% reported that they were satisfied with available treatment options.1

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  1. Yu D, Ramsey FV, Norton WF, et al. The Burdens, Concerns, and Quality of Life of Patients with Gastroparesis. Dig Dis Sci . 2017;62(4):879‐893. doi:10.1007/s10620 017 4456-7.
  2. Janssen P, Harris MS, Jones M, et al. The relation between symptom improvement and gastric emptying in the treatment of diabetic and idiopathic gastroparesis. The American journal of gastroenterology. 2013;108(9):1382-1391. doi:10.1038/ajg.2013.118
  3. Functional Dyspepsia and Gastroparesis in Tertiary Care are Interchangeable Syndromes With Common Clinical and Pathologic Features, Pasricha, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/National Institutes of Health Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium
  4. Lacy BE, Crowell MD, Mathis C, Bauer D, Heinberg LJ. Gastroparesis: Quality of Life and Health Care Utilization. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2018;52(1):20‐244.doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000728.
  5. Bielefeldt K, Raza N, Zickmund SL. Different faces of gastroparesis. World J Gastroenterol. 2009;15(48):6052‐6060. doi:10.3748/wjg.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Enterra Therapy for treatment of chronic, resistant to medication nausea and vomiting associated with gastroparesis caused by diabetes or an unknown origin in patients aged 18 to 70 years: patients should always discuss potential risks and benefits of the device with their physician.

HUMANITARIAN DEVICE

Authorized by Federal law for use in the treatment of chronic intractable (drug refractory) nausea and vomiting secondary to gastroparesis of diabetic or idiopathic etiology in patients aged 18 to 70 years. The effectiveness of this device for this use has not been demonstrated. What does this mean?