Brief Articles
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World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2009; 15(19): 2406-2411
Published online May 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.2406
Effect of two-channel gastric electrical stimulation with trains of pulses on gastric motility
Bin Yang, Xiao-Hua Hou, Geng-Qing Song, Jin-Song Liu, Jiande DZ Chen
Bin Yang, Xiao-Hua Hou, Geng-Qing Song, Jin-Song Liu, Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Jiande DZ Chen, Department of Gastroenterology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0655, United States
Author contributions: Yang B, Hou XH and Song GQ performed the majority of experiments; Hou XH and Liu JS participated in writing the manuscript; Chen JDZ and Hou XH designed the study and revised the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Dr. Jiande DZ Chen, Department of Gastroenterology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Basic Science Building, Room 433, Galveston, TX 77555-0655, United States. jianchen@utmb.edu
Telephone: +1-409-7473071
Fax: +1-409-7473084
Received: November 17, 2008
Revised: April 10, 2009
Accepted: April 17, 2009
Published online: May 21, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of two-channel gastric electrical stimulation (GES) with trains of pulses on gastric emptying and slow waves.

METHODS: Seven dogs implanted with four pairs of electrodes and equipped with a duodenal cannula were involved in this study. Two experiments were performed. The first experiment included a series of sessions in the fasting state with trains of short or long pulses, each lasted 10 min. A 5-min recording without pacing was made between two sessions. The second experiment was performed in three sessions (control, single-channel GES, and two-channel GES). The stimulus was applied via the 1st pair of electrodes for single-channel GES (GES via one pair of electrodes located at 14 cm above the pylorus), and simultaneously via the 1st and 3rd channels for two-channel GES (GES via two pairs of electrodes located at 6 and 14 cm above the pylorus). Gastric liquid emptying was collected every 15 min via the cannula for 90 min.

RESULTS: GES with trains of pulses at a pulse width of 4 ms or higher was able to entrain gastric slow waves. Two-channel GES was about 50% more efficient than single-channel GES in entraining gastric slow waves. Two-channel but not single-channel GES with trains of pulses was capable of accelerating gastric emptying in healthy dogs. Compared with the control session, two-channel GES significantly increased gastric emptying of liquids at 15 min (79.0% ± 6.4% vs 61.3% ± 6.1%, P < 0.01), 30 min (83.2% ± 6.3 % vs 68.2% ± 6.9%, P < 0.01), 60 min (86.9% ± 5.5 % vs 74.1% ± 5.9%, P < 0.01), and 90 min (91.0% ± 3.4% vs 76.5% ± 5.9%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Two-channel GES with trains of pulses accelerates gastric emptying in healthy dogs and may have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of gastric motility disorders.

Keywords: Gastric electrical stimulation; Gastric slow waves; Gastric emptying; Gastrointestinal motility; Gastric pacing