Use of Gastric Electrical Stimulation May Predict Hospital Length of Stay in Patients With Gastroparesis Syndromes

Introduction: Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) offers potential benefits for patients with drug-refractory gastroparesis syndromes (GpS). However, its impact on reducing hospital readmissions, particularly within 30 days post-discharge, remains unclear. GES placement might positively influence 30-day readmissions in patients frequently hospitalized for GpS symptoms. Methods: This prospective study included 110 patients admitted with GpS to a university-affiliated hospital over 5 years. The cohort had a mean age of 42 years. Hospital admissions were categorized into GpS-related flares and non-GpS-related causes. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and generalized linear models (GLM) were used to compare pre-and post-GES outcomes. Results: The 110 patients had 1,690 admissions, of which 760 (45.0%) were related to GpS flare-ups. Less than 2% of admissions occurred within 30 days of GES placement. After GES placement, the median number of gastroparesis-related admissions decreased from 3 to 2 ( p = .002), and the median length of stay (LOS) dropped from 12.5 days to 7.5 days ( p = .004). The median LOS for GES placement was 1.0 days [1.0, 3.8]. Conclusions: GES placement significantly reduced the number of gastroparesis-related admissions and the overall length of stay in hospitalized GpS patients. Our GLM analysis revealed that each additional day of hospitalization slightly decreased the odds of experiencing GpS-related symptoms. These findings suggest that GES can reduce hospital burden and improve quality of life in GpS patients. Further research into strategies for minimizing hospital admissions for severe gastroparesis flares, including bioelectric interventions, is recommended.