Update in Pediatric Gastroparesis

Eduardo D. Rosas-Blum1* Essam M. Imseis2* Richard W. McCallum3 1Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science center at El Paso. Department of Pediatric, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition 2University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Department of Pediatric, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition 3Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center at El Paso, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition *These authors contributed equally to this work. Gastroparesis is characterized by delay in gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. The etiology and management of gastroparesis have been well studied in adults, but limited in the pediatric population. Most common identifiable etiologies of pediatric gastroparesis include: post-viral illness, drug side effects, post-surgical complications, diabetes mellitus, and mitochondrial disease. The most common symptoms are usually age-dependent. Nausea and abdominal pain are more common in older children and adolescents, while vomiting is more common in younger children. The gold standard for diagnosing gastroparesis remains gastric emptying scintigraphy, although normal values in children are limited. Treatment includes dietary modifications, pharmacotherapy, and gastric electrical stimulation, maintenance of nutrition, attention to glucose control, and psychological aspects.