The Diagnosis and Work-up of the Patient With Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis-or delayed gastric emptying--is associated with upper gastrointestinal symptoms that include early satiety, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, fullness, and bloating. Gastroparesis should be considered in the diagnosis of a patient with these symptoms after mechanical and structural lesions have been ruled out. This review briefly summarizes gastric motor physiology and discusses the etiology and diagnostic approach to the treatment of a patient with possible gastroparesis. We highlight the methods available to measure gastric motility and describe their relative advantages and disadvantages.