Gastric pacemaker

Last revised by Hamish Smith on 18 Aug 2019

Gastric pacemakers are electrical sitmulation devices implanted for the treatment of gastroparesis and obesity.

Either via laparoscopy or laparotomy electrodes are implanted in the desired location, a pulse generator is placed subcutaneously usually in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Currently, two systems are available commercially the Enterra® and Maestro® devices. In the Enterra® device two electrodes are implanted in the greater curvature of the stomach. In the Maestro® device electrodes are placed around the anterior and posterior vagal nerves at the esophagogastric junction. 

Complications include incisional hernia formation, pocket complications at the stimulator site (e.g. infection, skin erosion), small bowel obstruction and bowel perforation. Both systems are MRI unsafe.

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