Innovative Treatment for Digestive Disorder
The Seton Gastroparesis Center is a centralized diagnosis and treatment center for patients suffering from gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach nerves and muscles do not function properly to help empty food into the intestines. The center is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of specialists who offer a full range of treatments for the disease process and is the only program in Central Texas offering Gastric Electrical Stimulation therapy for individuals living with chronic, intractable (resistant to medications) nausea and vomiting due to gastroparesis. We're proud to extend hope to patients suffering from the symptoms of gastroparesis, which can often lead to decreased quality of life.
About Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a condition in which food in the stomach is digested and passed into the intestines more slowly than normal. In a healthy digestive system, strong muscular contractions move food from the stomach through the digestive tract. With gastroparesis, the stomach contents pass much more slowly into the digestive tract, even though there is no obstruction preventing the stomach from properly emptying. In turn, this can sometimes cause nausea, vomiting and other symptoms.
Causes of Gastroparesis
It's not always clear what leads to gastroparesis, but most commonly, it is either developed as a complication of diabetes, a complication of stomach or small intestine surgery, or is idiopathic (unknown) in origin.
Symptoms Only a doctor can make a diagnosis, but the signs and symptoms of gastroparesis include:
- nausea and vomiting
- a feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites
- abdominal bloating
- heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux
- changes in blood sugar levels
- lack of appetite
- weight loss and malnutrition
Seton is proud to have four hospitals – the only hospitals in Central Texas - that have earned the