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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 Jun 3;117(8):1197–1220. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001874

Table 1.

Gastroparesis Recommendations

Recommendation GRADE Level of Evidence Strength of Recommendation
Risk Factors
1. In patients with diabetic gastroparesis, optimal glucose control is suggested to reduce the future risk of aggravation of gastroparesis. Low Conditional
Diagnostic Testing
2. Scintigraphic gastric emptying assessment is the standard test for the evaluation of gastroparesis in patients with upper GI symptoms. The suggested method of testing includes appraising the emptying of a solid meal over a duration of 3 hours or greater. Moderate Strong
3. Radiopaque markers testing is not suggested for the diagnostic evaluation of gastroparesis in patients with upper GI symptoms. Very Low Conditional
4. Wireless motility capsule testing may be alternative to the scintigraphic gastric emptying assessment for the evaluation of gastroparesis in patients with upper GI symptoms. Low Conditional
5. Stable isotope (13C-spirulina) breath testing is a reliable test for the evaluation of gastroparesis in patients with upper GI symptoms. Low Conditional
Management
6. Dietary management of gastroparesis should include a small particle diet to increase likelihood of symptom relief and enhanced gastric emptying. Low Conditional
7. In patients with idiopathic and diabetic gastroparesis, pharmacologic treatment should be considered to improve gastric emptying and gastroparesis symptoms, taking into account benefits and risks of treatment. Low Conditional
8. In patients with gastroparesis, we suggest treatment with metoclopramide over no treatment for management of refractory symptoms Low Conditional
9. In patients with gastroparesis where domperidone is approved, we suggest use of domperidone for symptom management Low Conditional
10. In patients with gastroparesis, we suggest use of 5HT4 agonists over no treatment to improve gastric emptying Low Conditional
11. In patients with gastroparesis, use of antiemetic agents is suggested for improved symptom control, however, these medications do not improve gastric emptying. Low Conditional
12. Central neuromodulators are not recommended for management of gastroparesis. Moderate Strong
13. Current data do NOT support the use of ghrelin agonists for management of gastroparesis. Moderate Strong
14. Current data do NOT support the use of haloperidol for treatment of gastroparesis. Low Conditional
15. Gastric electric stimulation (GES) may be considered for control of gastroparesis (GP) symptoms as a humanitarian use device (HUD) Low Conditional
16. Acupuncture alone or acupuncture combined with prokinetic drugs may be beneficial for symptom control in patients with diabetic gastroparesis. Acupuncture cannot be recommended as beneficial for other etiologies of gastroparesis. Very Low Conditional
17. Herbal therapies such as Rikkunshito or STW5 (Iberogast) should NOT be recommended for treatment of gastroparesis. Low Conditional
18. In patients with gastroparesis, EndoFLIP evaluation may have a role in characterizing pyloric function and predicting treatment outcomes following peroral pyloromyotomy. Very Low Conditional
19. Intrapyloric injection of botulinum toxin is not recommended for patients with gastroparesis based on randomized controlled trials. Moderate Strong
20. In patients with gastroparesis with symptoms refractory to medical therapy, we suggest pyloromyotomy over no treatment for symptom control. Low Conditional